Hillsboro soccer promotes assistant Nansel to head coach

There will be a new face leading Hilllsboro Hawks soccer.

Sam Nansel has been named the new head coach for both the girls’ and boys’ teams at Hillsboro High School.

Nansel was an assistant under former Hawks head coach Chris Schacht, who has taken over as athletic director at Hillsboro.

He says he’s glad that his first head coaching job is one he is familiar with.

Nansel also spent time as a volunteer assistant coach at Bayless.

He says all of his coaching time in the St. Louis area showed him what it takes to win.

Hillsboro is coming off one of its best seasons ever on the boys’ side.

The Hawks won a Class 3 District 2 championship and reached the state quarterfinals in 2019.

But even with the departure of stars like all-state midfielder Mark Moore, Nansel likes what he has coming back in 2020.

Hillsboro will return 11 players from last season’s 19-6-1 campaign.

To hear the full interview with new Hawks head coach Sam Nansel, click play below.