New challenge: Former MV soccer star Michael Chesler in his first year as Lehigh boys soccer coach | News, sports, jobs

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Lehigh boys soccer head coach Michael Chesler will lead his team in a non-district game against Uintah on Friday, March 15, 2024 at Lehigh.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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The photo illustration shows Mountain View keeper Michael Chesler, an All-Valley boys soccer MVP, from every angle. The photo was taken on Friday, May 30, 2008.

Craig Dilger, Daily Herald

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Mountain View goaltender Michael Chesler shoots Bonneville's Josh Gaimon, 7, and teammate Junior Lartey during a game at Woods Cross High School in Woods Cross, Utah, on Tuesday, May 20, 2008. (13 years old) and steals the ball.

Nick Short, Standard Examiner

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A Lehigh defender kicks the ball away during a non-district game against the Uintahs on Friday, March 15, 2024, at Lehigh.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Lehigh senior keeper Caleb Cawley throws the ball down the field during a non-district game against the Uintahs on Friday, March 15, 2024, at Lehigh.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Lehigh junior Rajid Abdu kicks the ball up the field during a non-district game against the Uintahs on Friday, March 15, 2024, at Lehigh.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Lehigh junior Rajid Abdu (left) competes for the ball during a non-region game against the Uintahs on Friday, March 15, 2024 at Lehigh.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Lehigh senior Rhett Huebner takes a free kick during a non-district game against the Uintahs on Friday, March 15, 2024 at Lehigh.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Lehigh junior Jesse Baker competes for a loose ball during a non-district game against the Uintahs on Friday, March 15, 2024 at Lehigh.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Lehigh players celebrate with senior Rhett Huebner (left) after scoring a goal in a non-district game against Uinta on Friday, March 15, 2024 at Lehigh.

Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

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Sixteen years after his high school football career ended, Michael Chesler's life seems to have come full circle in a sense.

The 2008 Daily Herald Mountain View Boys Soccer Player of the Year is currently the head coach at Lehigh, coaching prep players.

“The opportunity just came naturally and I felt excited,” Chesler said Friday after the Pioneers' 2-0 home win over Uintah. “Over the past few years, I have sent many boys and girls to Lehigh through my club team. There aren't that many of us right now, but I thought it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. Little by little, I started playing games. I’m excited to be back.”

As noted during his time at UVU, it's been a winding road for Chesler since his days playing for the Bruins. He played collegiate soccer at High Point, North Carolina, before gaining professional experience with Real Salt Lake and the Carolina Railhawks.

But football stopped being a part of his life until 2014, when then-Wolverine head coach Greg Maas gave him the opportunity to be a part of the UVU staff.

He stayed with the Wolverines until 2022, one year after current head coach Kyle Beckerman took over. Chesler said working with college athletes and high school athletes isn't all that different.

“Just like in college, there are academic challenges,” Chesler said. “You're dealing with behavior problems. You're dealing with personalities that are either very strong or very timid. For me, I like being with the players and helping myself improve from a soccer standpoint. I want to help as much as I can and ultimately contribute to life. That's the ultimate goal.”

Now, he's working to make Lehigh the best team it can be. Pioneer senior Rhett Huebner said Chesler was a club coach, so he knows his way around.

“I love every moment with him,” Huebner said. “He's a great coach who brings out the best in us. Working under his leadership, I see myself getting better. He's very professional and makes things work. He keeps us organized. He also helps us in training.”

It was a good start to the season for Lehigh, which defeated Salt Lake Academy (formerly RSL Academy) 4-3 in the opener and defeated an underdog Utes team on Friday.

“In the first game, we were very sporadic and out of control,” Chesler said. “We focused on controlling and dictating how we wanted to play, rather than just letting the game take over or letting the opponent do it. Until the red card. I felt like we controlled the game and had good control and good rhythm.”

Against the Uintahs, the Utes had a solid amount of possession, but the Pioneer defense prevented them from making a good impression.

“We were calm on the ball,” Huebner said. “We took our chance and we did it. It was a great result for us.”

The tide of the game changed in the 38th minute when Leahy sent the ball across goal to junior Jesse Baker, who sent in a perfect cross to Hübner, who was left alone in front of goal and scored. I was standing in front of it.

“It was a great cross from Jesse, so it was an easy tap-in,” Huebner said. “Having a wide open net is the best feeling in the world.”

The Pioneers doubled their lead when senior striker Braden Ikeme got free behind the Uintah defense and fired a shot just inside the far post.

However, things got dicey for the home team when a Lehigh player was given a red card for grabbing a Utes player who was charging toward the Pioneer net. That meant Leahy played the final 22 minutes with 10 players.

Uintah took advantage of that, getting a number of good looks on corner kicks and mid-play, but Lehigh's defense stood firm and prevented the visitors from scoring.

Chesler said he likes the Pioneers' start to the season, but knows they still have a lot of work to do.

“I think this group has a lot to learn, but we have a lot of talent,” Chesler said. “We are a young but exciting and dynamic group. I think it will take time to get them together, but I think this team can do a lot. We can reach our full potential. I'll check to see if that's the case.”

Lehigh (2-0)'s next game is against Murray on March 22 at 3:30 p.m.

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