WOODBURY- When Nonnewaug boys soccer coach Toby Denman won his 250th career game earlier this season, assistant coach Josh Kornblut didn’t even register the milestone.
That’s because Kornblut didn’t even know that the historic victory was on the horizon. In part because of Denman’s humility as he’s famously never one to boast about his program’s history success or advertise his own personal accolades.
“He didn’t even tell me,” Kornblut said. “He is so humble about that kind of stuff.”
The Chiefs’ 3-2, comeback win in overtime against Housatonic on September 3rd, helped Denman reach the milestone that made him appreciate his last two decades as a head coach. Now, as the program turns the calendar to October, the wins keep on coming despite a challenging stretch that saw the Chiefs battle injuries in late September.
“It’s just a number,” said Denman. “That means that I’ve been around some pretty talented players for a pretty long time and probably makes me appreciate the relationships and the culture that’s been built with the soccer program.”
Joshua Kornblut believes Denman’s achievement says a lot about him as a coach.
“Mr. Denman has been a great coach for a long time and I think getting 250 wins, that’s no small feat and it’s a testament to his consistency and the impact he can make on all of his players over the past 20-plus years,” said Kornblut.
Not only does Denman have an effect on his players on the field but also outside the field.
“His consistency and his ability to connect with the guys, his players for so long, he has players from early on in his career, coming back and visiting, wanting to talk and get to know the players today,” said Kornblut. “And I think that shows the impact he can have on his players and it goes way beyond the soccer field.”
Senior Nesim Iljazi agrees, noting his own benefit from Denman’s impact and the joy of being part of a program that continues to be a juggernaut of the Berkshire League.
“Denman has influenced me in many good ways,” said Iljazi.“For example, he’s good at pushing his players to try their best and keep working hard no matter the result which translates to things in my life outside of soccer.”
“This is my seventh year coaching with Mr. Denman and I’ve been around a lot of different coaches whether as a player, as a coach myself, and he is definitely someone I’ve learned the most from,” said Kornblut. “Just the way he carries himself, and the culture he’s able to foster and create with his players he really shows that he cares, and teaches them more than just soccer, but how to conduct themselves as young men.”
The Chiefs enter this week with a pivotal game against Lakeview to finish September before a rematch with Shepaug Thursday. The Chiefs won the first matchup in overtime against the Spartans.
