Moon coach Bill Pfeifer nears 500th win, an unprecedented feat in WPIAL girls soccer

By: Chris Harlan
Tuesday, October 10, 2023 | 2:54 AM

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Previous Next

Undefeated state champion, national coach of the year and the winningest coach in Pennsylvania girls soccer history. Moon’s Bill Pfeifer was all of those last fall and says he thought about retiring on top after a season that couldn’t have gone any better.

The six-time WPIAL champion stresses team goals, but there was one milestone within reach that made walking away difficult. It’s a number, actually.

Five hundred.

No PIAA girls soccer coach had ever won that many games before this season, yet Pfeifer is all but guaranteed to get there soon. He had his first chance Monday night but remained at 499 after a 1-1 draw at South Fayette.

“Somebody will break the (wins) record, but to be able to be the first in the WPIAL with 500, no one can ever take that away,” said Pfeifer, who has coached at Center, Seneca Valley, Hopewell, Central Valley and Moon in his 28-year career.

His next chance to reach the milestone is Wednesday when Moon hosts Blackhawk.

The scene was set Monday at South Fayette, where Pfeifer works as a teacher. The Tigers took a 1-0 lead and had a chance to avenge a loss from four weeks ago, before settling for a draw. Still, Pfeifer said, he left the stadium feeling good about his team’s effort.

“It’s not about the 500,” he said. “It’s about these kids. We talked about having a winning season, making the playoffs and winning the section. By getting a result, we now control our own fate.”

A goal by Addy Jacoby put Moon ahead 1-0 early in the second half. That lead stood until South Fayette’s Mia Deramo netted the tying goal with nearly 7 minutes remaining. The teams then played two scoreless overtimes.

“We know going up against Moon, it’s always going to be a battle,” South Fayette coach Nick Rosser said. “They’re a great team. Obviously, I love playing the good competition. I love competing with (assistant coach) Arne (Thomas) and Bill. I just don’t want to see them again.”

Pfeifer, 57, was recognized last January as coach of the year by the National Federation of State High School Associations. He recently received another national honor when he was asked to coach the East team at the High School All-American Game this December in Charleston, S.C.

Two of his players, keeper Serayah Leech and forward Sydney Felton, made the watch list as possible participants.

Leech, a senior, said what sets Pfeifer apart as a coach is his willpower and a commitment not to give up on any player.

“Regardless of how much you’re struggling, he’s going to continue to really push you to your best ability,” Leech said. “He sees what the girls don’t see in themselves.”

This is Pfiefer’s second stint as Moon’s coach. He won consecutive WPIAL and PIAA titles with the Tigers in 2016 and ’17, before personal issues led him to resign, including a cancer diagnosis for his wife and two joint replacements for him.

“A program like this, it can’t be a part-time thing,” he said.

Pfeifer returned to Moon in 2021 and the team immediately won back-to-back WPIAL and PIAA titles again. Last year was so good that he considered retirement after the Tigers went 24-0 and finished ranked second nationally. But Pfeifer also knew his career record had 489 victories.

“If I would have been at 500 last year, I think I would have,” Pfeifer said. “You couldn’t have a better year than last year. Get national coach of the year, win the state title, go undefeated, get asked to coach the All-American game and you’d have 500 wins? It doesn’t get any better.”

But Pfeifer came back, and Moon is winning again. The Tigers were 10-1-2 and atop the Section 4 standings after Monday. Three games remain in the regular season and then they’ll try to defend their WPIAL crown.

His teams have won a WPIAL title in each of the past four decades, starting in the 1990s, highlighting a staying power he attributes to his adaptability. His top assistant, Arne Thomas, said Pfeifer is outstanding at preparing kids for situations they’ll face in games.

“He’s extremely organized and detail oriented,” said Thomas, who has coached 13 seasons alongside Pfeifer. “High school is an interesting game. If you just do the right things most of the times, even if you’re not perfect, you can be successful. That’s the way we’ve taught the kids over the years.”

The title of winningest girls coach in the state is an ongoing battle between Pfeifer and Joe Margusity, the coach at Owen J. Roberts in Chester County. Margusity also was nearing 500 wins this season.

The longtime coaches met two years ago in the state finals and Moon won, 1-0.

Pfeifer, a Springdale native, said he hadn’t taken time to reflect on 500 wins, but he knew it meant one thing for sure.

“It means I’m old,” Pfeifer said laughing. “A lot of games. A lot of good people. A lot of kids that have bought into the program. Great assistant coaches. The administrations everywhere I’ve been have been phenomenal. The communities. It’s not me. It’s everybody.”

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

Tags: Moon