Those letters referenced soccer standouts from Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, and three from Texas. Glen Marshall, out of Marcus High in Highland Village, Texas, was Holmes’ primary target.
“We first saw Glen at the Blue Chip College Showcase in Cincinnati,” Holmes said. “[Assistant Coach] Sean [Helliwell] and I went over to watch his club team, which was ranked as one of the top teams in the country in the under-18 division.”
Marshall was the captain of his Dallas Texans club team during his junior year of high school when Holmes first found him. Little did Holmes know, however, that after Marshall signed his Letter-of-Intent he would lead his high school team to a No. 1 ranking in the national polls at the end of his senior season.
He led Marcus H.S. to a perfect 30-0 record and a berth in the state championship match which Marshall described “as the most exciting match he has ever been in”.
The championship match was tied 1-1 with seven minutes left before one of Marcus’ players scored an own goal to put Plano West up 2-1. A team captain, Marshall was then put into the spotlight.
“At first I was kind of upset at the play,” Marshall said. “But I then went over and told the team to keep their heads up and that we were good enough to come back and win. I always knew we were going to come back.”
With 1:45 remaining in regulation, a teammate crossed the ball towards him from 25 yards out. Marshall went in the air and beat the goalie to the ball for a header into the back of the net to tie the match at two goals each.
“It was the most incredible feeling ever, and everyone in the crowd went crazy knowing that our season was not over and we still had a chance to win the ballgame,” he said. “That gave us all tremendous confidence heading into overtime.”
The teams played two overtimes without a goal, causing the match to be decided by penalty kicks. Marcus High won the title 3-2 on penalty kicks.
“It was the happiest I have ever been, running out on the middle of the field and celebrating with the kids on the team that you have worked so hard with for the last four years,” Marshall said. “It was just great to end my senior year with a state championship.”
Before his senior season began, Marshall headed out on official collegiate visits. His first stop was Dayton, Ohio, to see the Wright State campus followed by a trip to Bowling Green, Ky. His soccer career plans changed after that.
“I just fell in love with the campus at WKU,” Marshall said. “I loved the group of guys on the team and also knew that Ian Smith was coming here. I knew him from summer soccer.”
Marshall had other stops planned at California Poly in San Luis Obispo, Calif., and an engineering school in Ohio. He was also recruited by Ohio State, Michigan, and Arizona State. WKU, however, was the only school on his mind.
“I really liked the campus and its size. It fit what I was looking for in a college,” Marshall said.
After Marshall signed with the Hilltoppers, the only question mark left was if he could make the transition from high school soccer to Division I athletics.
“It is definitely as hot here as it is in Texas, I thought it would be a lot cooler,” Marshall said. “As for soccer, the hardest transition was practicing a few times a week for club soccer then moving to several times a day practicing at WKU. I had a lot of sore muscles.”
“Glen has made a successful transition to Division I soccer,” Holmes added. “He came in physically and mentally ready for the challenges of the college game, and was not afraid to take on responsibility.”
Initially, Marshall’s only goal for the season that just started was to make the traveling team. Not only did he accomplish that, he has started each of his first four collegiate matches, while in a scrimmage against Valparaiso Marshall scored the match-winner in the 78th minute. Now, Marshall has elevated his goals for 2007 and his four-year career.
“I’ll try and put some pressure on myself to get in there and score a few goals, but I want to concentrate on my defense and make sure we don’t get any goals scored on us,” Marshall said. “I want the team to make the conference tournament, and finish with a record of .500 or better. And, before I graduate, I want to win a Missouri Valley Conference championship.”
Marshall also has plans after graduation as he is majoring in mechanical engineering at WKU.
From the initial National Letter-of-Intent to the current soccer season, Holmes hit a bull’s-eye with Glen Marshall.
