DeMatha’s varsity soccer team has begun a new era in their program history with the departure of former PE/health teacher and head varsity soccer coach Andrew Quinn. DeMatha was looking for somebody who was qualified enough to be the head varsity coach and the school found their guy. Judah Cooks, a former assistant coach at DeMatha from 2005 to 2009, is coming back to Madison Street to be the new head coach.
Cooks is a great fit for the job with over 20 years of experience coaching and even more playing. He is a DMV soccer icon who is known throughout the area. He has played at the highest level for soccer in the US, playing locally for DC United from 1998 to 2001. He also briefly played for a few other pro teams and MLS-affiliate teams until 2003. But since he was a highly regarded player, he was able to become a manager for DC United U-18 team from 2008 to 2017.
The team’s new second-in-command is Parnell Hegngi, who graduated from DeMatha in 2008 and is now director of soccer programming. He played at Ohio State for four years and after that had a professional career in Germany. He has coached at DeMatha for four years and at Seton before that. Both coaches bring knowledge and experience to this program.
Senior Jenovic Elumbu talked about the transition between the two coaches. “It’s been different tactics but I believe that the team is still the same and has the same talent,” Elumbu said. Senior right wing Peter Dignam says, “the environment is much higher… and the atmosphere Coach Judah brings is very good. He hypes us and he’s a very good coach overall.”
The Stags are having a strong season so far with a 5-0-2 record. They appear primed to capture their first WCAC championship since 2015.
