It has been nearly two weeks since Union Pines announced Mike Mibb as its new boys’ soccer coach, and since then he has been working with athletic director Bobby Purvis and the 2011 Vikings to get ready for the fast approaching fall season.

“I am very pleased to be coaching at Union Pines and to be working with coach (Bobby) Purvis, the players, their parents and staff at the school,” said Mibb. “I look forward to seeing the young men grow in their soccer abilities and achieve success on the field.”

In Union Pines’ initial press release concerning the hire, principal Robin Lea said, “Mibb’s credentials as both a coach and soccer referee- instructor are impressive.”

His soccer background spans 20-plus years and has been both diverse as well as successful.

“I moved to N.C. from Illinois in August of 2010,” said Mibb. “At that time, I became certified to officiate soccer in high school and the N. C. Youth Soccer Association (NCYSA).

“While in Illinois, I served as a referee, an assignor, an assessor and a referee instructor. Then, during the boys’ fall 2010 season, I officiated several UP matches. I did so again for the girl’s spring 2011 season. During this time, I became familiar with the Vikings’ program.”

Growing up in a small farming community in central Illinois, Mibb knew nothing of the game in his early years

After leaving the Air Force, he attended Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and studied forestry. Then his first son, Andrew, was born in 1979. He started playing soccer when he entered third grade.

“Andrew loved the sport and demonstrated a high degree of ability,” said Mibb. “He eventually went the University of Illinois at Chicago on scholarship.

“Due to my son’s love for and success in soccer, I educated myself on the game by reading books on various aspects of the sport, studying coaching tapes and DVDs, watching professional coaches conduct training and going to Illinois Youth Soccer Association (IYSA) training classes.”

Mibb and a friend attended the State F clinic at Sangamon State University in Springfield, Ill., in June of 1991. He then hosted several coaches schools at SIU-C.

In February of 1993, Mibb received a State E license. Then, in May of 1995, he attended an American Sport Education Program session conducted by the National Federation of State High Schools Associations at SIU-C. It was there where he was certified in Coaching Principles and Sports First Aid courses. In November and December of 1997, he gained a State D license from the IYSA.

Mibb began his coaching career in 1997 at Trinity High School in Carbondale, Ill., where he was the head girls’ coach for seven seasons. He then moved to Anna-Jonesboro High School to serve as the boys’ and girls’ head soccer coach for seven seasons, from 2004-2010.

Over his time at Anna Jonesboro, Mibb’s teams captured three outright league titles and tied for the league crown twice. In 2009, he was named the South Seven Conference Coach of the Year.

“I feel my past record from Illinois demonstrates I have had a degree of success in two different coaching situations,” said Mibb, who is the fourth head soccer coach in six years for the Vikings.

The last two seasons have been lackluster for the Vikings. Both campaigns resulted in lopsided first round losses in the state playoffs.

In 2009, under head coach Jeremy Blake, the Vikes went 9-9 overall and finished third in the Cape Fear Valley Conference with a league mark of 8-4. Jeremiah Johnson was the program’s head coach last year, as Union Pines again placed third in the CFVC standings with a league mark of 7-4-1 while finishing 8-7-3 overall.

“I returned to coaching because I love the game of soccer and working with young people in improving in their abilities,” Mibb said. “From officiating Union Pines’ matches, I was able to observe the boys’ team play and truly believe I can help the players improve and achieve more success and satisfaction.”

For that to happen, Mibb made it clear each individual Viking player must be willing to invest the time and effort needed to improve and succeed.

While the time he has spent with the Vikings as their head coach has been short, Mibb has already spotted potential and positive signs that the program is ripe for a turnaround.

“I did believe that the boys played below their potential last season,” Mibb said, “but after training them this past two weeks I know they did not achieve all they could have last season. I am getting to know them and they are getting to know me.

“I believe we both have great expectations for the upcoming season and firmly believe we have a very good opportunity to win our conference. I want the players to grow in their abilities and understanding of the game and grow as a team. I believe they should set a goal of winning their conference and getting past the first stage in the state playoffs.”

While the team has been working several times per week, according to Mibb mandatory practices for Union Pines soccer start Aug. 1 at 6:30 a.m. The second mandatory practice will be that same afternoon at 6:30 p.m.

“This schedule will continue Monday through Friday through Aug. 12,” said Mibb. “Starting Aug. 15, we will then go to a single practice per non-game day and until school starts those practices will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

“Prior to participating in the mandatory sessions, all athletes must have a sports physical on record at the school and must meet all other requirements set by the school board such as proof of age and residence. Without first meeting these requirements no one may participate in any school-sponsored athletic program.”

Contact F.W. Manning II at frankwm2@gmail.com.