More often than not, the timing of such a change can make or break a program before the players’ very eyes. So, when Fremont High’s vacancy for a head girls soccer coach drifted into late summer, hardly anything was concrete for 12 returning seniors hungry for a turnaround.

After a two-year stop and a 6-27 record in two years with the Silverwolves, Alain Reyes stepped away from the program over the offseason to pursue another career opportunity in lieu of a third season in Plain City. At the bell, Heath Madsen, a six-year assistant coach and 11th-year teacher, was named the program’s interim head coach in July.

Madsen assisted both seasons under Reyes and the final four seasons of the Kelly Parke run, which featured Fremont’s last winning record of 11-9 in 2020. Fremont posted a 3-14 record in each of its past two campaigns, including a 0-10 finish during its final season in Region 1.

“I really wanted to see, can I hack it?” Madsen said. “I’ve been an assistant for so long. I wanted to kind of keep the continuity in the program because I’m familiar with all the players, minus the freshman. But the consistency factor is the biggest thing that drove me. I’ve really enjoyed being connected to (Fremont) as an assistant, and I wasn’t planning on changing that role.”

CONNER BECKER, Standard-Examiner

While the potential for a new head coach still rests in the future, Madsen has Fremont making undisputable strides in the present.

Junior forward Sierra Schneider struck the net twice in leading the Silverwolves past Westlake 4-1 on the road to begin the year with a win. On Wednesday, Schneider picked up her third goal of the season, and senior defender Page McCormick recorded her first, in a 2-0 home shutout over Viewmont — another non-region win, and one-third of their total wins from 2023 to 2024.

An alum of Cyprus High in Magna, Madsen said the season begins with believing in the “good core of natural leaders” responsible for pulling the underclassmen together in a short window; the Silverwolves start their first Region 5 schedule at Clearfield on Aug. 19.

“I don’t see why it shouldn’t begin with us expecting to win,” Madsen said. “I’m a firm believer in believing in ourselves and never doubting our abilities. Soccer, as many people know, it doesn’t necessarily matter who outplays who on the field; the result can be that you win a game (where) you’re not the better team.”

Saturday’s 10 a.m. non-region finale at Weber kicks off a four-game road stretch for Fremont, with Madsen and crew not slated to return home until Sept. 2 to host neighboring West Field.

CONNER BECKER, Standard-Examiner

It’s likely that, during that stretch, a few crucial decisions will be made regarding the starting lineup. But perhaps the most important position on the defensive end, the goalkeeper, features two seniors in Kaitlyn Worthley and Rubi Flores.

For Worthley, one of four team captains, the competition has only brought more stability to a previously uncertain season, given the coaching decisions that lie beyond her control.

“It’s fun. We’re both really good friends and we’re both fine with a split-keeper situation,” Worthley said. “She’s really good, and we just know we can trust each other when the other is in goal. … Last year, we only had one senior, so this year we have pretty much our entire team.”

Upon learning Madsen would be the interim head coach, Worthley and her teammates felt a sense of relief knowing there’d be a rough blueprint rather than cooking from scratch.

“I know how he coaches, I know his style and it’s a little less uneasy,” Worthley said. “If I have a new coach, I have to figure out how they coach, and I have to figure out all the ways they like to play, whereas Madsen, you already know everything.”

Twelve seniors — exactly half of Fremont’s 24-player roster — are naturally going to create true-veteran battles at nearly every position. But, as Madsen points out, cultivating a better product begins within that very same competition across the roster.

Twice already, Madsen and the Silverwolves have proven their product a winner.

“We’ve got some good, vocal people at almost every position,” Madsen said. “If we can stay solid and sound in what we’re trying to teach — the flow of the game as they maintain positions to stay in their spots — they should be playing to best help the team.”

Connect with reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker @standard.net and X @ctbecker.