Kornish steps down as girls soccer coach

One year became five. The kids were growing up before his eyes. Sometimes, that’s how life works. But Drew Kornish fully understands what matters most — and that’s family. So Sauk Prairie’s girls soccer coach recently made the difficult decision to step down from a program that he lifted to new heights. Kornish, who took the girls job just before the cancelled pandemic season of 2020, went a remarkable 56-16-6 over the last four years. He also led the Eagles to the WIAA Division 2 state tournament each year between 2021-2023. Prior to Kornish’s arrival, Sauk Prairie had been to state just once in school history. “This was obviously a very difficult decision to make,” Kornish said. “This program has meant a lot to me and my family over the past five years. From players and parents to coaches and officials, I have been fortunate to work with tremendous people.” The most important people for Kornish, though, are at home. And with his two sons both reaching school age this fall, Kornish knew he was needed more at home than on the pitch. Kornish will remain the Eagles’ boys coach, though. “As my family enters a new stage with both of my sons becoming school age, I look forward to being able to spend more time with them, which at the end of the day is the driving force behind this decision,” Kornish said.  Kornish took the girls’ job on an interim basis back in 2020 to help the Eagles get through a coaching change. But, “one year quickly turned into five” he said. And what a run it was. After the 2020 season was canceled due to the pandemic, the Eagles went 15-1 in the spring of 2021. Sauk Prairie won the Badger West Conference that season with a 7-0 record, rolled past River Falls, 3-0, in a sectional final before losing to Whitefish Bay in the state semifinals. In 2022, Sauk Prairie went 16-7-1 overall and beat River Falls again in the sectional finals, this time by a 3-1 score. The Eagles then fell to Whitefish Bay, 1-0, in the state semifinals. In 2023, Sauk Prairie went 13-4-3 and beat River Falls in the sectional finals on penalty kicks. Once again, though, the Eagles lost to Whitefish Bay at state, 3-1. This spring, Sauk Prairie won the Badger Small Conference title and went 12-4-2 overall. The Eagles were nipped by eventual state champion Oregon, though, 1-0, in the sectional semifinals. That turned out to be Kornish’s final game as the Eagles’ head coach, but he’s confident the program will continue to do great things. “I know the program is in great hands as the younger players in the program have stepped up and will continue to push as an effort to continually improve,” he said. “I wish the program nothing but the best and look forward to being a fan in the coming seasons.”