A long-serving member of the Aquinas athletics program, AQ men’s soccer coach Joe Veal recently reached a significant milestone in his work with Aquinas soccer - his 200th win with the Saints. Like all endeavors at Aquinas College - rooted in the Dominican charisms of prayer, study, community, and service - Coach Veal hopes that his experiences and work cause others to look beyond his achievements to the importance of faith and cooperation.

Veal’s first connection to the College he would one day call home began in an unlikely way: as coach for the opposing team. In 1996, after a period of transition, Veal left the college with which he was affiliated, keeping his eyes open for something new. The decision to leave had not necessarily been an easy one, but the best days lay ahead. Soon, Veal was invited to co-coach at Aquinas. “That’s where I really learned about the school,” he said. “That’s where it began. After that year, I got a job at Rockford, coaching and teaching there. I did that for nine years.”

Veal would eventually return. “Coach [Terry] Bocian called and said there was an opening, and asked if I wanted the job,” he said. “That’s when I took the position, seven years ago.” Veal has since coached the Aquinas soccer team to many victories, leading to his recent 200th win with the Saints. When asked about how this number makes him feel, Veal is quick to shift the focus onto those around him. “It took a lot of people involved to make it happen,” he said.

Reflecting on previous coaching experiences at other institutions, Veal makes it clear that the support for the Aquinas sports program plays a significant role in its notable success. “If the administration’s behind you, and they’ll support you, and you’re able to recruit players because the school has a lot to offer academically... it all comes together,” he said. “Here at Aquinas, all three of those things are there. I’m thankful for those people.”

When asked what he hopes his students take away from their athletic experiences, Veal said, “First and foremost, they’ve been created for a purpose by God. I challenge them to find that purpose. Part of that is being part of a team, is learning how to work within a team atmosphere. We look at priorities: having a personal relationship with God first, then going from there. One individual isn’t more important than the others. The guys have to work together as a team to make it happen. It’s that life lesson that they can take where they work, or as a family.”

The importance of teamwork and understanding the deeper significance of sporting have been paramount for Veal in his career. Reflecting on his early work and the challenge and weight of coaching responsibility, Veal said, “I just got to a point where I said... we’re either going to coach and teach life principles and have things in their proper perspective or get out of it. That was about twenty years ago.” It’s this humility, and a willingness to recognize his own humanity, that has allowed Veal to be a significant mentor in the lives of his students.

Reaching the milestone of 200 victories doesn’t mean that Veal is done. On the contrary, he anticipates a bright future of athleticism rooted in faith, teamwork and respect for others and self. “It’s a constant evaluation,” he said. “It’s not just about my pleasure and having fun with it, and competing and the fun of competition. It’s also, ‘Is this how I can best be used?’ Right now, I think it is.”