Patrick Birns Seeks To Keep Moving Parkland Soccer Program Forward

Patrick Birns, hired Tuesday by the Parkland School Board as boys varsity soccer coach, finds himself in a familiar position.

“It’s the second time I’ve had to fill the shoes of a legend,” Birns said. “At Delaware Valley, I followed a coach with 450-something wins. Now, it’s a coincidence that I’m in the same position."

Birns takes the helm from local coaching icon Chris Bleam, who amassed more than 520 victories in 22 years prowling the Parkland High School sidelines. But, he’s not looking to make wholesale changes right away.

“Chris had the program is heading in the right direction,” Birns said. “I’ll just do some fine-tuning, building and re-tooling.”

Birns certainly has some familiarity with the Parkland program and the Lehigh Valley soccer scene, serving as an assistant to head coach John Cari at , where he helped guide the Hornets to the 2010 Lehigh Valley Conference championship.

Birns, joined the Hornets staff in 2009 after spending nine years as the head man at Delaware Valley High School in Milford. He recorded 100 victories there and led Delaware Valley to a District 2 3A title in 2005.

The first order of business for the Emmaus High School health and physical education teacher Wednesday was to inform the Hornet soccer players of his hiring at Parkland.

“That was tough to tell the boys, because it wasn’t official until (Tuesday),” Birns said. “It will be difficult not coaching in the building where I’m working, but I’m excited about the big rivalry. I’m excited about taking over the job.”

Birns will take time to meet with his new players and their parents. He inherits a young soccer club with two seniors, 12 juniors and one sophomore returning from a 14-6-1 season.

The Trojans fell to Emmaus twice, including a 1-0 loss in the Lehigh Valley Conference tournament and bowed to Easton in the second round of the District 11 playoffs.

“I think we're loaded with talented kids at the club level and that’s exciting to me,” Birns said. “I think the main thing is to continue what Chris was doing, taking the program to the next level by playing teams like Lower Merion in non-conference games.

“We’ve got a lot of kids coming out of youth leagues and trying out for Parkland soccer,” Birns said. “I’m going to try to coordinate and connect with the club coaches to work hand in hand to develop talent.”

For now, Birns said he’ll settle into his new role by watching his players compete for their club soccer teams.

“That will give me the opportunity to watch kids play for their club teams and see them in different aspects from I when saw them play against Emmaus. It’ll be big advantage to see your kids playing different positions,” he said.

Birns' portfolio of training and coaching experience is extensive. He has trained or coached teams for the Lehigh Valley United Soccer Club, Parkland Area Soccer Club, Western Lehigh United Soccer Club, Lower Macungie Youth Association girls U-14 team and was an evaluator for selection of the Pocono Snow National Premier Soccer League team.