Members of the Clarke Central High School girls varsity soccer team huddle around CCHS interim head girls varsity soccer head coach Chris Hulse during soccer practice on March 11. Before Hulse joined the varsity team on Feb. 13, he coached the girls from 2013-22 and was an assistant coach on the boys varsity team during the 2024-25 season. “I believe in building relationships and that the entire team is important,” Hulse said. “A team really finds harmony (and) success when every member considers their role vital and understands how important they are.” Photo by Mzée Pavlić
After changing head coaches at the beginning of the 2025-26 season, the CCHS girls varsity soccer team has maintained its standing at fourth in Region 8-AAAAA.
Under its newest head coach, interim girls varsity soccer head coach Chris Hulse, the Clarke Central High School girls varsity soccer team has achieved an overall record of 4-6, a Region 8-AAAAA record of 2-2 and region standing of fourth on March 21.
The team began the season under former girls varsity soccer head coach Steve Stewart, who stepped down from his position after the team’s first game. Hulse originally coached the CCHS girls varsity soccer team from 2013-22 and on Feb. 13, he returned to CCHS and became the team’s fourth head coach in three years.
“I love Clarke Central, and I love soccer, and I understood the circumstances of what the team needed,” Hulse said. “Having served as (head coach) for 10 years, I understood that I was probably as well equipped as anybody available to step into the role.”
As a three-year year veteran of the varsity team, CCHS girls varsity soccer striker Elizabeth McArthur, a junior, has now played under four head coaches: Jacob Baxley during the 2023-24 season, Gillen Schecter during the 2024-25 season and Stewart in the beginning of the 2025-26 season.
“(The change from Stewart to Hulse) was confusing and stressful for a lot of (the team) because we went from (winning) one game, and then the next practice, (it was) like, ‘By the way, your coach is gone, and here’s a new coach,’” McArthur said. “(There) was just a lot of adapting and figuring out how (Hulse) coaches.”
“(The change from Stewart to Hulse) was confusing and stressful for a lot of (the team) because we went from (winning) one game, and then the next practice, (it was) like, ‘By the way, your coach is gone, and here’s a new coach.’ (There) was just a lot of adapting and figuring out how (Hulse) coaches.”
— Elizabeth McArthur,
CCHS girls varsity soccer striker
The team has played seven games under Hulse and is halfway through the regular season. With only two region games left against Alcovy High School, regionally ranked sixth, on April 4 and Apalachee High School, regionally ranked fifth, on April 14, the Gladiators must maintain a standing of fourth to attend the Georgia High School Association Girls Soccer Championship playoffs.
A video shows Clarke Central High School interim girls varsity soccer head coach Chris Hulse talking to the girls varsity team in Billy Henderson Stadium during an after school practice on March 11. Since becoming interim head coach on Feb. 13, Hulse has tried to shift the team’s focus towards defense. “We’re working a lot on crossing along with striking, but we’re also working a lot on defense,” CCHS girls varsity soccer striker Elizabeth McArthur, a junior, said. “Before (Hulse), it was just a lot of striking work. But now we’re focusing a lot more on defense.” Video by Mzée Pavlić
“(The team) don’t necessarily have as many wins as I’d like, but (looking) at the teams that we’ve played, (Oconee County High School) is (a) back-to-back state champion (and Jefferson High School) was state runner-up. We’ve jumped into swimming (with) the sharks,” Hulse said. “I’m excited to continue forward and focus on the next task in front of us.”
