Evan Siefken hired as Johnnie soccer goalkeeping coach

The SJU soccer team recently added a new member to their coaching staff as SJU senior Evan Siefken was named the Head Goalkeeping Coach. Siefken has been the starting goalie for the Johnnies the last four years and now takes on a new adventure in the sport: coaching.

Siefken earned numerous MIAC honors during his time playing for the Johnnies. Additionally, he played two seasons as the starting goalie for the Minneapolis City Soccer Club in the USL2 League, which is the largest pre-professional soccer organization in Minnesota.

During his senior year, Siefken expressed wanting to stay involved with the program in any way he could. The perfect opportunity arose mere months later.

The last five years, Siefken has been coaching at his local soccer club and for his high school team during the summer, so he’s well accustomed to coaching.

“I’ve always had a passion and an interest in coaching. I knew I wanted to get into the coaching side of things after I was done playing,” Siefken said.

Not long before Siefken’s hire, Tudor Flintham was named the new head coach for SJU soccer. While Siefken was in high school, Flintham, the former Gustavus coach, had tried recruiting Siefken to come to Gustavus, so the two knew each other well.

Flintham coached Siefken in the summer while he played for the Minneapolis City Soccer Club.

Flintham said he is excited to have him on the coaching staff and wanted to help start Siefken’s coaching career.

“He wanted to be a coach once he graduated, and I saw this as a perfect opportunity to help a guy with lots of talent to get started with his coaching journey. He’s a very talented player, but he has a coach’s brain,” Flintham said.

Siefken said he expressed his interest in the goalkeeping coach position and working with Flintham, went through the application process and saw it come to fruition. Siefken is excited to use his playing experience and bring that to the team.

“I’m most looking forward to still getting to be around the game of soccer,” Siefken said.

Having grown up with sports always around, Siefken is happy he gets to stay around that environment.

“I want to make the sport fun for the next generation and give athletes the opportunity to improve and accomplish their goals,” Siefken said.

Being able to give back to this program means a lot to Siefken.

“The first time I stepped on campus I felt the community here and I think the sports programs exemplify this community. There’s really something special about this place and the community feeling made me want to stick around and come back,” Siefken said.

Flintham recalls getting to know Siefken over the years through recruitment and competing against each other for four seasons. When hiring Siefken, Flintham talked about the kind of player Siefken was.

“He was highly respected by other coaches and players. He’s elite at what he does and is a very special goalkeeper,” Flintham said.

Flintham believes Siefken will bring lots of his experience and knowledge to the team.

“He has a talented and different way of playing the goalie position, so he’ll bring his technical knowledge and experience. I also think he’s coming in with a bit of a chip on his shoulder since he had a very successful individual career, but he wanted to achieve more from a team perspective. It stills feels like he has something to prove, and I’m excited to have this on the team,” Flintham said.

Flintham is looking forward to having Siefken on the staff.

“I’ve been doing this for a good amount of years and have a good amount of knowledge, but I definitely could learn things from Evan. He can teach me things and I can teach him things,” Flintham said.