Josh Austin
OCHS assistant boys soccer coach Josh Austin will take over head coaching duties in the spring.
The move comes as a result of former head coach Erich Forschler stepping down from the position to focus solely on girls soccer, after coaching both teams this past year.
“I’m excited to come in and take over where coach Forschler has left off,” Austin said. “I worked with him last year as an assistant, so I’m already familiar with the group of guys that we’re going to have and the foundation that they’ve laid down.”
Before joining Forschler’s staff as an assistant this past season, Austin coached the junior varsity team and was an assistant varsity coach at Chestatee High School in Gainesville. He went on to coach middle school soccer for four years within the nationally renowned Johnson High School program.
“He has been a part of some really good programs,” OCHS co-athletic director Mike Holland said. “He was also the boys soccer assistant coach last year, so it was a good fit.”
Austin is an assistant coach for the OCHS football team, as well.
While he looks forward to producing a strong product, Austin emphasized a priority in continuing strong bonds.
“I’m a relationship guy,” he said. “I think I’ve built relationships with these guys to where we can have open communication about what I can do to put them in the best position to win.”
And while Austin has already familiarized himself with a large portion of the expected roster, having been immersed in youth soccer for the bulk of his career, he’s looking forward to new talent on the horizon.
“I’ll be excited to see who comes up from the middle school,” he said. “The younger guys — I will be excited to see them step in.”