We are excited to announce Coach Dave Hertel as the first Head Coach of the West Michigan Bearings. Hertel comes to the Bearings with a wealth of coaching and playing experience.
Coach Hertel served as the Technical Director for USA Soccer Club (Holland, MI), assistant coach for Hope College Men’s Soccer (2015 – 2016), assistant coach for the Calvin College Men’s Soccer team (2014), and assistant varsity coach at West Ottawa High School (2013).
A Holland, MI native, Dave Hertel played high school soccer at Holland Christian and club with TKO and Michigan Wolves. In his senior season at Holland Christian, he set a school record with 22 goals, leading the team to the State Championship and being voted the top player in Division 2 in the process.
Hertel began his collegiate career in 2004 at the University of Kentucky, before transferring to Michigan State University. Between 2006 and 2008, Hertel started and played every game for the Michigan State Spartans at left defensive back for Coach Joe Baum. He recorded 1 goal, 5 assists and 44 shots in his time at MSU.
While at MSU, Hertel’s awards and accomplishments include:
- First Team All-Big Ten 2008
- Lobos Soccer Tournament All-Tournament Team 2008
- All Great Lakes Region NSCAA/Adidas 3rd Team 2008
- Big Ten All-Tournament Team 2007
- NCAA Tournament appearances in 2007 and 2008
- Invited to the 2009 Adidas/MLS Player Combine in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
He graduated from Michigan State University in 2009 with a degree in Inter-Disciplinary Humanities.
While in college, he played for the West Michigan Edge (2005 – 2007) and the Michigan Bucks of the USL-PDL (2009 PDL All-League team). He finished the 2009 season with the Real Maryland Monarchs of the USL Division II under Coach Anthony Hudson.
After college, he went on to play for the Richmond Kickers of the USL (2010 – 2011), where he was named to the All-Conference 2nd Team in 2010 and beat two MLS team in the 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup advancing to the semi-finals.
Isaac Braak, Co-Founder and Director of Business Administration for the Bearings, played underneath Coach Hertel in his time as an assistant at Hope College. In response to Hertel’s addition to the Bearings, he commented: “We are very excited to have Coach Hertel as the head coach of the Bearings. Along with being a fantastic coach, he is an even better person. He fits the mission of the team perfectly; he is a highly competitive person who also has a passion for service.”
We are delighted to welcome Coach Hertel as the first head coach in our young club’s history, and we are eager to see the great strides our club can make under his leadership!
