After retiring from his position as the Camas Boys Soccer Coach in 2017, Roland Minder will be returning as the boys’ varsity soccer coach at Camas High School. In his prior 23 years of coaching the boys’ varsity soccer, Minder has led the team to 18 league titles and three state championships. Minder coached the girls’ varsity soccer team for 15 years, where he led them to 12 league titles and two state championships. Minder was also inducted into the Camas Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019 for his accomplishments.  

Minder’s players think very highly of him. “He is one of the most genuine human beings I’ve ever met,” said former CHS boys soccer player Dominic Fewel. “He’s an extraordinary leader as well which helps his ability to coach and teach.” 

Minder’s ability to coach players to their full potential is one of the qualities that helped him build the soccer program to the powerhouse it is today.  “He’s able to coach each player exactly how they need to be coached to help them learn and be better. Coach Minder is also very good at helping players focus on the details of the game. And once the fundamentals are set, he paints the bigger picture which can be seen by his players,” said Fewel.  

Some of Minder’s biggest accomplishments came from his time coaching the girls’ varsity team.  Former CHS girls’ soccer player Anna Sanchez said, “Coach Minder put the team first, and he always wanted to win. His desire to win allowed him to take the girls’ team to state four or five years in a row.”  Minder and the girls’ varsity team were able to win two of those championships.  

Minder’s impact stretched beyond the soccer field, and into the classroom. “Minder always said that soccer will eventually end so to be sure I strive for great things in the classroom so I can open doors for myself beyond athletics,” said Fewel. Minder taught German at CHS all while coaching the soccer teams.  

Minder will be replacing Dan Macaya who has been the boys’ varsity soccer coach since 2011. Macaya decided to step down from his position this year after taking the 2021 season off for paternity leave. Former student of Macaya’s JP Warnell said, “Macaya helped me overcome challenges and helped me find new ways to become better at soccer and also helped me become a better person overall.”

Although Macaya will be missed, his impact on and off the field will be greatly appreciated and felt throughout the Camas soccer community.  The absence of Macaya is a great one, Minder will be able to step in and help the boys compete at the highest level.