In 2003-2004 the Indiana Men’s soccer team was able to win back-to-back National Championships, a feat that has been accomplished by few, but twice by IU.
Back then, IU was led by a couple of legends: Danny O’Rourke and Kevin Robson. Little did they know, they were having a profound impact on a Bloomington kid who idolized them and what the team accomplished.
That kid was Phalo Pietersen (Peter-son), and moving to Bloomington as a soccer lover during those times was like, “putting a kid in a candy shop” according to Pietersen. Moving it full circle, Pietersen went on to attend IU himself, becoming soccer student manager from 2008-2011. Now, Pietersen has been added to the team’s staff as Director of Operations, and he is working alongside none other than his idols, Danny O’Rourke and Kevin Robson.
Indiana Soccer celebrating their 2019 Big Ten Tournament Championship. Pietersen pictured on left side.
“It’s like a dream-come-true type stuff,” Pietersen said.
Pietersen plays a crucial role in the build up of the team. He makes sure that everything is running smoothly. He is in charge of creating schedules, game day management, meals, and anything left over that coach needs to be done. It may not seem like the most important role to some, but those people are mistaken. There are many reasons Indiana Men’s soccer has unprecedented success, including eight national championships. A big one is that Coach Yeagley can focus solely on soccer, with full confidence that all of the other functions of the team are in good hands: Phalo’s hands.
Not only has Pietersen helped, but according to Senior captain Spencer Glass, Pietersen “fit [the role] extremely well when he came in.”
But since the arrival of the coronavirus, Pietersen has had a more important role to fill: working with the National Guard, and helping test those who need it most for the virus.
Phalo notes that while his journey to the National Guard started with the question, “How am I going to pay for college?”, he has grown a love for the branch and the people he works with. One that keeps him committed and willing to offer help.
“I ended up liking it much more than I thought I would, and [that’s why] I’m still here,” Pietersen said.
Currently, Pietersen is stationed in Evansville, IN. His squadron has turned a parking lot into a COVID-19 testing site. At first, the tests were only available to essential workers such as hospital workers, law enforcement workers, and those who have to be out and about due to their occupation. Recently, they have opened up the tests to the general public and are administering around 250 tests per day.
Extra footage of Phalo Pietersen discussing his experiences with Indiana Soccer and the National Guard.
Some may find this type of job scary and stressful, but Pietersen took it as a blessing and a great way to get up on his feet and help out.
“The way I’m wired, I don’t like to be idle, I like to be doing things…so when everything shut down, I was honestly just waiting for the call.”
It is this kind of thinking that not only makes for a great director of operations, but the type of person we all want helping in a time of need.
