Scott Duhl 2018 Hall of Fame Spotlight
Men’s Soccer | October 20, 2018
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan Division of Intercollegiate Athletics will induct the 2018 Hall of Fame class on Friday, Oct. 26, at the Fetzer Center. The inductees will also be honored previous night on Thursday, Oct. 25 during halftime of Western Michigan football’s game against Toledo. This week www.wmubroncos.com will take a closer look at each of our inductees: Scott Duhl (men’s soccer), Jim Havrilla (men’s basketball), Becky Horn (women’s track and field), Greg Jennings (football), Doug Marcero (baseball), and Chantal Robinson (women’s soccer).
Scott Duhl
A native of Canton, Mich., Duhl was a defender for the Broncos from 2000-03. The only four-time All-MAC selection in WMU men’s soccer history, Duhl was named First-Team All-MAC in 2002 and 2003 along with being named to the Second Team in 2000 and 2001. Additionally, Duhl was a National Soccer Coaches Association of America Third Team All-Great Lakes Region selection in 2003.
While playing in a program-record 77 career games, Duhl helped WMU win the first MAC Tournament Championship in program history in 2003, recording an assist in the MAC title game. Two two-time Team MVP totaled 47 career points with 16 goals and 15 assists.
Q & A With Scott Duhl
Q: What was your reaction when you found out you were being inducted?
For me it was off the radar, I didn’t think anything like that would take place. I haven’t played in a while so getting any kind of accolade or getting honored for anything I’ve done athletically seemed to be in the past. It was certainly pretty exciting. I’ve described it as really neat and is something that I didn’t expect. It has also brought me back in touch with some former teammates so it has been a pretty cool thing.
Q: Do you have some favorite memories from your time playing at WMU?
I think it is always easy to point to some of the trips. You spend hours at the training facility and when you get to get on a bus for an away game, you spend all weekend with lots of laughs, card games, and movies.
For me, a big one was my senior year. We were able to win a lot of games and until 2017 we had the most wins for a WMU team and were the first team to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, so we had accomplished quite a bit. I think winning always means people are enjoying themselves a little more, and it’s easier to remember some of the wins more than the losses.
Especially with my class in particular, we had a couple of seasons where we were really close to having a lot of success, but we just never knew how to win, for whatever the reason. As seniors, between our class as well as adding good players in the classes below us, it seemed like everything fit.
Q: Who were some of the people at Western Michigan that made your time memorable?
There is obviously a lot of guys. My freshman year, you come in early and you stay with some of the older classmen. As a freshman I stayed with Jeff Schlit through pre-season training camp. A couple of the guys I grew close to in my own class, Pat Wilson, Todd Sabin, a guy who I also played high school with in Guisseppe Ianni.
I’m sure I’m missing some others, but those guys initially are guys that I think about. We got to spend a lot of time together, whether it was on or off the field. I run into some guys at alumni events and it is cool to see some of them that were the old guys when I was coming in and how those roles reverse for some of the younger guys when I was leaving. It’s always great when you can touch base with some former teammates and reminisce or catch up and see where life has taken us.
Q: Have you kept up with the program since you left?
Chad Wiseman was one of my teammates, so him and I obviously go back. I coach in the soccer community with one of the soccer academies, the Michigan Wolves, so Chad and I communicate often about players. I also catch up with guys that are at WMU that played with our academy, like Ben Thornton, Kosti Moni, and Brandon Eklund. For me keeping in touch with the program is pretty easy because I have some personal ties and plus my own desire to keep up and follow the team.
Q: What has life been like for you since leaving Western Michigan?
For a long time, I wasn’t exactly sure what career I was going to get into. I didn’t quite use my teaching degree in terms of being at a school, but I am a full-time soccer coach, so I do use my teaching degree in that regard while working with young student-athletes and helping them to prosper and to be better players and better people. My wife and I have two kids under the age of two, so it is a little bit of a grind these days managing everything. I am certainly really happy with where I am at and overall I would say it has been a successful journey so far.
