SCHOOL SPORTS& DEFENDING GLORY

Coach Sean McBride reflects on the Homewood Patriots’ back-to-back state championship wins.

BY ANNA GRACE MOORE

PHOTOS BY HOMEWOOD CITY SCHOOLS & CONTRIBUTED

OOn Saturday, May 13 at the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s women’s soccer state championship, the Homewood High School Lady Patriots secured a hard-fought win against Montgomery Academy, defending their second 6A State Championship title in a row under their coach Sean McBride’s leadership.

The defending champions won their first-ever state championship in 2019 under coach Mindy McBride, who is Sean’s wife and now one of the assistant principals at Homewood High School. Sean took over the women’s soccer program in 2020 when his wife was promoted, leading the Patriots to back-to-back wins in 2022 and 2023.

Sean is no stranger to hard work. He began teaching history and coaching men’s soccer at Homewood High School in 2000 and since has led his players to win more than 300 games and the men’s soccer 6A State Championships in 2003, 2005, 2006, 2014 and 2018.

When asked how he has tenured success among his players, he credited the students, themselves, for their dedication both on and off the field.

“When you’re a high school athlete, it’s very hard to balance your sports and grades as well,” Sean says. “This group of young women were tremendous on the field but even better in the classroom. Some of these kids that just graduated were honors grads and had a 4.0 and above.”

Two of Sean’s daughters, Mary Siena and Annie Grace, played on his varsity team this year. Mary Siena was named State Championship MVP and earned Second Team All Metro, and Annie Grace earned First Team All Metro.

“My wife coached a lot of these kids when they were 10, 11, 12 years old, and I coached a lot of their brothers when I [coached] the boys program,” Sean says. “They’re not just your players. You become so attached to them. It’s almost like they’re your adopted kids for the season.”

One such player, Maddie Massie, played on Sean’s pee-wee team as a child in Homewood Soccer Club and returned to play for him again in high school. Maddie was named the Metro Player of the Year and earned First Team All Metro.

“It was really exciting to win, but I think it’s a