Cathedral coach, player share similar passion for soccer
Published 11:29 pm Sunday, September 11, 2016
Cathedral head soccer coach Dennis Hogue, left, and his daughter and Lady Greenwave striker Emma Hogue, right, have helped the Lady Greenwave to a 4-1 record this season. Emma has played soccer since she was 4 years old. Dennis is in his first season as Cathedral’s head soccer coach.
Emma Hogue practices with her dad Dennis Hogue at the Cathedral football field.
Emma Hogue plays kee
Cathedral head coach Dennis Hogue
Cathedral head soccer coach Dennis Hogue, left, and his daughter and Lady Greenwave striker Emma Hogue, right, have helped the Lady Greenwave to a 4-1 record this season. Emma has played soccer since she was 4 years old. Dennis is in his first season as Cathedral’s head soccer coach.
Parents often get a thrill when their children find a hobby and make it a passion.
Cathedral soccer coach Dennis Hogue happens to share the same passion as his daughter, Emma Hogue. The game of soccer, a sport Dennis fell in love with during college, brings them together.
“It’s awesome. I never pushed her into it — just kind of do what you want to do,” Dennis said. “But this is what she knows, and she was kind of a natural. … She’s really developed into a really good player, and that’s fun to watch.”
Emma began playing soccer at age 4, and started to follow the career of Mia Hamm. Emma now sports Hamm’s No. 9 jersey as a senior on the Lady Greenwave soccer team.
“I used to be obsessed with her,” Emma said. “Dad got me her jersey, and I would sleep in it. I’m No. 9 because of her.”
Since Emma thrived in her seventh-grade season, she has served as a mainstay as a Lady Greenwave starter since her eighth-grade year.
“I’ve played everywhere on the field growing up; I never had one set spot,” Emma said. “I know what I’m supposed to do, and I try to get the job done.”
In addition to her soccer skills, Emma also doubles as a talented player, where she teamed with Marty Lewis to win a girls doubles tennis state title last season.
Dennis is currently in his first year as Cathedral’s head coach, and previously served as an assistant.
Emma said there are plenty of positives in having her dad as her coach, but jokingly added it comes with its fair share of disagreements.
“It definitely has its ups and downs, but it definitely has more perks than downsides,” Emma said. “We fight sometimes, but he pushes me harder than the rest of the players.”
Dennis said he’s tough on his daughter because he knows he potential. The first-year coach said he also leans on Emma for coaching advice as she provides a player’s perspective to his coaching philosophy.
“It’s a good thing,” Dennis said. “Because as a coach you think you have your things in place and you don’t want to tinker, and sometimes you don’t see what the players are seeing. So it’s good that we knock ideas off each other.”
The senior striker is one of 10 on the experienced Lady Greenwave roster, and is in the midst of a strong season, with a 4-1 overall record to go along with a 2-1 district.
“We’ve been playing together since we were in the seventh grade, so we know each other,” Emma said. “We know who is going to do what, and we work together really well. We’re a pretty strong team.”
Dennis said perhaps his squad’s most stern test to date will come Tuesday when Cathedral hosts MAIS power Laurel Christian School, where he’ll rely on his daughter to help lead the Greenwave from the top of the formation.
“Her strength is her understanding of the game,” Dennis said. “And that’s the hardest part to get down.”
Emma is also the daughter of Suzan Hogue.
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