End of an era: Streator soccer mainstay Jim Muntz retiring at end of school year

In the 1993 Streator High School boys soccer preview which appeared in the Times-Press, then first-year Bulldogs coach Jim Muntz said, “I hope we can keep soccer going for a few years, because we can be a strong program in the future.”

Now, after some 30 years of walking the sidelines and 361 victories, Muntz will be retiring from teaching and stepping down as head coach at the end of this school year.

“It hasn’t really hit me yet, but I’ve thought about it. It’s not the way I wanted to go out, with the kids not getting a full season, but at least we had a season.

“It is surreal that it’s happening, but it was time even though I still love what I do,” said Muntz, who with a few games left on the 2021 schedule has compiled a 354-203-33 coaching record at SHS while his clubs have finished .500 or better the past 26 seasons.

“I’ll miss practices, the interactions with the kids, and seeing them grow as players and people. I love the competition, and I have good relationships with other coaches and referees that I’ll miss. It will probably all hit me after next week that I won’t be lacing the coaching shoes up anymore, but I’m so proud of the run the Streator soccer program has had the past 28 years and that it’s in a really good spot for whoever takes it over.”

After starting his teaching and coaching career at Paw Paw High School, including two years as head soccer coach, Muntz took over a Streator program that was returning after being axed due to budget cuts the previous school year.

“Coaching soccer wasn’t on my radar, I had never even played soccer,” said Muntz. “The gentleman that was the head soccer coach at Paw Paw at the time, Richard Schlaf, asked me if I’d be interested in helping out. He felt it would give me a chance to get to know the kids. I said sure, and that’s how it took off.”

Muntz said he learned a lot from Schlaf about the game of soccer, and he also learned a lot and picked up things from other coaches in the area, including coaches in Little Ten Conference which was filled with good soccer teams and coaches who understood the game.

After a year away from teaching and coaching, Muntz was hired at Northlawn Junior High School and hired as SHS boys soccer coach in 1993. In 2000, he moved to the high school as Dean of Students, also teaching driver’s education and health.

“To me, the game was just fun, and I stayed with it because I enjoyed it and enjoyed continuing to learn the game as a coach,” said Muntz, who was a strong voice in getting the SHS girls soccer program off the ground. “I also stuck with it because we had a good group of kids and a very strong youth program already in place.

“My goal from the start was to have a program that was respected, by the community and by the other schools we play, and also a successful program. I also wanted to build the program to the point we were able to have two levels, JV and varsity.

“The testament to why the program has been strong over the years is because we’ve had good players, bottom line. I have always been there to lead them, but it basically comes down to the players, and they’re where the credit goes for the program’s success. Credit also goes to the coaches and parents at the Streator Youth program, for making the kids better and teaching them the right way. They get to me, and they are already experienced and skilled, so my job is to see if I can help make them even better.”

One of the many highlights of his time as soccer coach was in the 1999 season when the Bulldogs finished with a school-record 21-2 record, a North Central Illinois Conference championship and a sectional title with a 1-0 overtime victory over Minooka.

Muntz said there have been countless people who have contributed to the success of the SHS soccer program over the years, including Doug Huey (helped coach, organized spring travel seasons), assistant coaches over the years in J.T. Huey, Rob Beck, Mark Astle and Rob Fabris.

“I would also like to thank my wife and family for being very supportive over the years,” said Muntz. “Especially my wife, who has baked countless cookies for our soccer teams.”

While he said stepping away will tough, Muntz — an avid golfer — is looking forward to a summer trip to South Carolina as well as more time with his family.

“They are treating me for my 60th birthday and my retirement with a trip out to Hilton Head, so an opportunity to play on some of the really nice golf courses out there,” said Muntz. “My daughter also had twin grandbabies in September, and I will be spending a lot of time with them, while my son and his new wife will be getting married in June.”