Linda Lee Hershey has coached soccer in college and at the club level and has watched many of her younger players go on to play collegiately.
Now, the veteran coach, a teacher in the School District of Lancaster, is taking the reins as coach of the girls soccer program at McCaskey High School.
“It’s been a dream of mine to get this job and try to get more kids involved in soccer. It’s an exciting opportunity, and it’s just a neat setting to mentor kids,” she says. “I see a lot of opportunities for us as a team.”
With her years of experience playing and coaching, she hopes to develop a hard-working, “beautiful style of soccer” at McCaskey, where the boys soccer program has generally had more success. Last year’s girls team finished 2-15.
Hershey keeps a quote on her email page from Pele, generally considered the best soccer player of all time.
“Success is no accident,” the Brazilian superstar once said. “It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and, most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.”
Hershey, who was on the first staff when Millersville University began its women’s soccer program more than 30 years ago (her future husband was the head coach), is an English language development teacher at Carter and MacRae Elementary School.
The young McCaskey players are excited about the possibilities for the 2025 season.
Says one, Jasmyne Williams (seated, left), “We have a lot of young players, but also a lot of seniors,” so she’s hopeful for the team.
Sofia Schuller (seated, right), a junior who plays defense, calls it “a really young team, so it’s really a good opportunity to bond as a team.”
Teammates include Audrina Long (standing, left) and Kennedy Cox (standing, right).Hershey says that "the enthusiasm is growing, and I'm happy about that."LNP | LancasterOnline hosted Media Day at its downtown Lancaster office to connect local media with Lancaster-Lebanon League players and coaches.
