Sierra girls soccer coach Pires on the cusp of 400 wins

Manuel Pires doesn’t talk much about his longevity as the girls soccer coach at Sierra High School.

You want to discuss milestones? The only coach in program history would rather everyone focus on the string of Sac-Joaquin Section banners hanging in the school gymnasium than the personal summit ahead.

That elevation marker reads “400 wins.”

For Pires, the beautiful game has never been about individual glory. Not as a player, and certainly not now as one of the longest-tenured coaches on campus.

Pires can clinch career win No. 400 on Thursday against West Campus of Sacramento in the second round of the Division IV playoffs. The game will be played at 6:30 p.m. at Daniel Teicheira Memorial Stadium.

The Timberwolves have put Pires in this position by doing what no other team in the Stanislaus District accomplished in the regular season. Sierra is unbeaten in 27 matches and the No. 1 seed in the Division IV tournament.

“The season we’ve played, being undefeated, that’s an amazing accomplishment,” Pires said. “But our goal was to get into the playoffs. Our next goal is to be prepared for whoever we get in the playoffs and to see if we can bring another section banner to our school.

“Every team has to make their own journey. It’s been a great ride so far. To be undefeated, it’s not an easy thing to do in our section, our area and our league.”

Sierra is one of the most decorated programs in the southern half of the section. The Timberwolves have four banners (1998, 2003-04, 2011), one more than Modesto Christian, Hilmar and Sonora for the most in the Stanislaus District.

Yet, the Timberwolves haven’t won it all since 2011, a fact that isn’t lost on Pires. He insists that’s the number that drives him. Not 400 wins.

“It’s just a number,” Pires said. “What’s more important is that these girls get to experience what I’ve had in the past with other groups. To hold a section banner, it’s something they’ll never forget. That’s my goal. It’s not about me getting one more win.”

It’s about getting three more wins.

Sierra has developed into a section and state power on the strength of a dominating freshman class.

Jadyn Shinn is 12th in the state in points with 23 goals and 16 assists, both team highs. Yasmin Ballew has 19 goals and six assists, while Callie Crain has split time on the field and in the goalie box. She has five goals and six assists to go with 10 saves in 140 minutes. The fourth freshman, Kayley Alvarado, has one goal and two assists.

Pires believes the freshmen’s ability to mesh seamlessly with their teammates, especially the upperclassmen, has been even more impressive than their statistics.

“Over the years, we’ve had some tremendous freshmen come into our program,” Pires said. “To have a group of four make the impact they’ve had on this team and our school is amazing. It’s been a great experience.”

Sierra athletic director Anthony Chapman credits Pires with creating an atmosphere for the student-athlete to succeed.

His longevity has cultivated expectation and wins. His consistency has produced memories hundreds can share.

“To me, it’s not only a testament to his longevity, but also his commitment to performing at a high level,” said Chapman, who was a student at the school when Pires launched the soccer program.

“Having known Manuel for a long time, he is someone that not only is very passionate for the sport, but passionate for the student-athletes he coaches.”

Pires is part of a fraternity of coaches with at least 20 years of experience at Sierra.

Baseball coach Jack Thomson is approaching his 600th victory, while football coach Jeff Harbison closes in on No. 100.

Boys basketball coach Scott Thomason, swim coach David Breitenbucher and cross country coach Mike Rosendin are members of the 300-win club, while boys golf coach Jeff Williams has eclipsed 200 wins.

“Our school community is stronger because of their longevity and success,” Chapman said. “We are proud to have what we have and look forward to seeing our younger coaches continue down the same road as their predecessors.”

This story was originally published May 11, 2016 at 5:40 PM with the headline "Sierra girls soccer coach Pires on the cusp of 400 wins."