Michelle Lenard Looks To Have Foundation Set for Baylor Soccer

Head Coach of Baylor Soccer, Michelle Lenard was kind enough to take the time to sit down with me before her team started official practices on August 1st. We looked at everything from roster construction to tactics to culture to the transfer portal. More articles will come from that interview, but this is the overarching piece.

Baylor University

The new Hurd Welcome Center will have a grand opening on September 9th

“When they first started doing it, it was just a big hole in the ground.”

These days around Baylor University, there are plenty of projects that fit that description. Foster Pavilion, The Fudge Football Development Center, and the Hurd Family Welcome Center. 

Now as the Hurd Welcome Center plans to open in September, a different sort of development project is looking to show the Baylor Family how far it has come in just one short year.

Michelle Lenard, the author of the quote above didn’t go so far as to call her first season at the helm of Baylor Soccer “just a big hole in the ground,” though I’m sure the game film has been long since buried.

Coach Lenard came from Division II Dallas Baptist University with the mission of taking over at Baylor and drastically transforming the playing style of the program. The scope of the project was building something completely new for Baylor Soccer. And that came with a cost.

The 2022 season was rough. A 4-11-2 record, a program-worst goal differential (-16), and the first time missing the Big 12 Tournament since 2010.

“We were missing some pieces and we had some internal issues we were working through.”

In a sport with 14 scholarships, rosters of at least 28 players, and frequent nagging injuries missing pieces can be enough to derail a season. Internal issues stemming from a new play style and coaching staff that remaining players hadn’t committed to out of high school on top of that? That’s a recipe for a hole-in-the-ground season.

But there was a decisive method to the maddening season (and let’s be clear, it was maddening for fans, players and coaches alike). 

“We felt really convicted that it had to happen in year one… We’ve gone through the fire already.”

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Morgan Greensage (25) reacts after missing a scoring chance against Oklahoma

The fire being to figure out which remaining players fit the play style, which ones fit the culture, how new additions to the team fit in, who would step up and be the new leaders in the new culture, etc.

Each of those struggles dug that hole a little deeper last season. But with time and perspective after an off-season of recruitment, training and team building, the hole that 2022 Baylor seemed buried in looks to be filled in with a solid foundation for Coach Lenard.

The players that return are recommitted to Baylor Soccer and Lenard’s project. It’s their project now as well. The incoming transfers and freshmen fit the vision and are free from the weight of transition.

“They’re all like-minded with the same goals and aspirations,” said Lenard, “There's just this energy that comes off of them… We love them. They're motivated. They're fit. They're quick to adjust.”

And the foundation that has been laid is not just energy, aspiration and vibes. Leaders have emerged through the spring. Attacking Midfielder Ashley Merrill, defender Blythe Obar, goalkeeper Madison Martin and winger Jenna Patterson were all named by Michelle Lenard as those who set the tone on and off the field. While none of them have been at Baylor for two years, they carry the banner for the culture of the program. 

Additionally transfers Tyler Isgrig and Hannah Boughton were named as part of the leadership group. All of these leaders will be competing for  lot of minutes on the field this year, and likely understand the on-field philosophy of Coach Lenard the best. They make a great framework for Lenard to build around and it doesn’t stop there.

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Hannah Augustyn (28) goes to clear a ball from Baylor’s 18-yard box against TCU in 2022

“They're all very fit. So we're able to jump straight into the soccer piece,” said Coach Lenard looking forward to starting official practices on Tuesday, August 1st. It’s another leg up on last year for the Bears and presumably a part of the culture now moving forward.

Now to the actual on-field performance of it. “I anticipate a big step forward and not just the tactical piece, but the outcome,” said Lenard.

Last year, the Bears did not have a healthy No. 9 (center forward) until a couple of games into Big 12 play. That's over half the season. Now coach Lenard plans to rotate fresh legs in at the 9 as well as on the wings and at attacking midfield. She has more healthy players than last year and they all know her system better too.

“I think we'll see a better end product as far as goals scored. We’ll be more organized offensively. Because we're deeper, we'll be able to make changes late in the game and keep the level high.”

Building depth and tactics on the base of fitness and culture. 

Similarly, at goalkeeper, the Green-and-Gold have upgraded from two options to four and they all have more understanding of and experience with their responsibilities in this system.

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Blythe Obar (13) controls the ball against UNC in 2022

The competitions for playing time should be fierce and draw the best performances out of individuals.

At this point, the “weakest” part of the roster looks to be center back where Coach Lenard says “We do have options… just not as many and not as many experienced options.”

Defensive stalwart Blythe Obar is moving back to center back from defensive midfield to shore up the back line though.

Reallocating resources and strengthening specific areas are steps that come after your foundation is set. 

It could be that the foundation for the program is not fully set yet, and this is just the foundation for the coming season. But perhaps they are further along in this program-building project than Coach Lenard is willing to put on the record. I don’t begrudge her that. Expectations weigh heavily, and this year Baylor Soccer can enjoy lower ones so long as they show significant improvement from 2022.

On Sunday, August 17th the Bears’ season starts in Eugene, Oregon. That’s when we can start to see just how much Michelle Lenard has built in 20 months at the helm and just how well she has laid that foundation.