Interview with Coach Graham Kennedy on the X-Men's conference Championship Win

Following their AUS Championship win, had the opportunity to interview Graham Kennedy, coach of the X-Men soccer team, to ask him a few questions about their season.

Q: Congrats on the win. This was X-Men Soccer’s first AUS championship win since 1994. As head coach, as well as a StFX alumnus, can you describe what this win means to you and the X-Men soccer program?

A: I wouldn’t say vindication—but more relief, joy, and happiness. We felt like we finally got the monkey off our back. We have had many years where we’ve lost in overtime or penalty shoot-outs before the finals, so this is a big feeling of accomplishment. We’ve gone into the national championship as the 2nd AUS seed before, but now we’re going in as the top seed.

Q: What are some challenges that you have had to face on the road to winning the conference championship? Are there any moments that you feel have made your team stronger in the long run?

A: Even though we were overcoming a recent history of disappointment, we didn’t talk about previous failures. Instead, we focused on this year. Our biggest obstacle was injuries; we didn’t have a consistent 11 players until the last few games of the season. We had to move players out of position and couldn’t manage to find consistency until the end.

Q: What would you say is your team’s greatest strength, on and off the pitch?

A: Our greatest strength is that we're together. We have a united approach to winning. All players have egos, but putting that ego aside, and putting the team before themselves is something that this team did does well—It is our biggest strength both on and off the pitch.

Q: Do you have a favorite match that your team has played so far this season? Is there a specific game that made you extremely proud of your team?

A: The AUS semi-finals game against UNB. The AUS final as well, it was the best defensive game I’ve seen over the last 10 years.          

Q: Can you provide some insight into the days leading up to a big game?

A: We do a detailed analysis of our opponent. We watched film of their games and identified formations and key players; we’ll even go over where each player shoots their penalties. Analytics and gathering information are major processes of preparation in the modern game.

Q: What are some things you say to your players before, or during, a high-stakes game? What type of mentality or mindset do you want from them?

A: I don’t say a lot to them before high-stakes games. I mostly just tell them to remember the basics and fundamentals of the game. We’ve got such good leadership on this team, that I don’t need to say much.

Q: Is there anything different that you expect from your players throughout the postseason?

A: By the time we get to the postseason, our habits are so ingrained that we just focus on doing more of the same. You don’t want to start doing something new once the postseason begins—just keep doing what you did to get there.

Q: Are there any coaches, either from the professional game or coaches that you know personally, that have inspired or influenced you in some way?

A: I’m a huge fan of coaches. There’s a coach from England named Stewart Hall who is a big influence for me. He works with Arsène Wenger at FIFA, and previously worked as a technical director in the Philippines. Roberto De Zerbi from Brighton is someone I follow a lot, as well as Pep Guardiola. Jean Pierre Gasperini and Marcello Bielsa are both also big influences for me. I’m still a student of the game. I don’t think there’s a week that goes by where I don’t spend an hour or two reading something tactical, and of course, I still love watching football.

Q: How would you describe your team’s playstyle? Would you say you have a rigid formation or system that your players follow at all times, or is it flexible?

A: We pride ourselves on being tactically adaptable. We've played in many different formations. Depending on who we play, we might change our formation. Out of possession, we want to stay narrow and force them out to the wings. We have a consistent way of playing in terms of principles, but we are tactically adaptable. For example, if we want more speed and height up front, or more control, we’ll change the personnel, which in turn changes the tactic.

Q: One last thing, do you have a message for the supporters of the X-Men soccer team?

A: I appreciate our fans and everyone who comes out to our games. I think part of my job as a coach is to entertain our fans, and I hope that our fans enjoy watching us play as much as the team enjoys playing in front of them. Thank you to all the fans who watch us at home, on the road, or online.