Six years out of college, anyone hopes to have a solid job and great support at home.

With his wife and dog backing him up, men’s soccer assistant coach Garrett Biller has climbed the ranks to Division I level by the young age of 27.

Biller took time off from dressing up his dog like a ghost to talk with the Northern Star about his move to DeKalb and his coaching success.

Northern Star: How did you come into contact with NIU head coach Eric Luzzi, and how did you end up coming to NIU?

Garrett Biller: It’s a funny story, actually. I contacted coach Luzzi to do a soccer camp here at NIU about three years ago, back when I knew he was the head coach at St. Mary’s, and I played Division III soccer at Simpson College. I kind of recognized his name from there, and I had sent him an e-mail about an NIU camp. And ever since then, I’ve been real close friends with him and [Former NIU head] coach [Steve] Simmons. And when the job became available, they gave me a ring and it was a no-brainer.

NS: Has the move to DeKalb been tough on you?

GB: I think every move is tough on you in some level, but the work that we put in day in and day out, I guess I tend to look by a lot of stuff that’s going on at home. I’m thankful I have a nice wife who handles all the work for me on that end, but it’s been a lot of fun.

Everybody at NIU has made the transition as easy as possible, and I’m glad to be here.

NS: Have there been any big differences between living in Nebraska and living in DeKalb?

GB: For sure. There’s a lot of big differences between Nebraska and a place that’s close to Chicago. Where I was before, there’s probably about 25,000 people, and NIU has more than 25,000 people. So that stage has been different.

But I’m originally from Des Moines, so it’s nice to be back in a city that has offered a lot more and has a lot more that you can offer to your student athletes and bring to the table. So it’s been more fun than anything else.

NS: Any differences to coaching here as opposed to coaching at Hastings College?

GB: At just one level, everything’s magnified. There’s not an easy game on your schedule. Every team on your schedule has the ability to beat you on any given day. We’ve proved that with going to North Carolina and getting a result.

I think the amount of preparation you have to put in to every minor detail, with all of your responsibilities, is the biggest difference.

NS: With your experience with the Olympic Development Program and the summer camps with
NIU, Oregon State and Creighton, do you see soccer in the U.S. improving?

GB: For sure. Even since I’ve graduated from college, being involved with the ODP, both with the state and regional level, progress that the kids are making these days, I think, attests to the amount of coaching that they’re getting. Coaches — like coach Luzzi — are giving them a lot of attention, and it’s definitely progressing.

NS: What has been the difference between coaching men at Hastings and women at Wayne State?

GB: With women, you’re managing emotions and with men, you’re managing egos. And sometimes, maybe I’m better at one than the other, but I think the way you address certain things and the way you go about your program and your day-to-day operations is a little bit different when you coach women, in a good way and a bad way.

NS: Would you consider your coaching, up till now, to be a success?

GB: Absolutely. I think it’s been fun to develop as a coach, being 27 years old. I would say the programs that I’ve been able to go to, the impact that the staff has made has definitely progressed the teams, especially at Hastings where they were 19-4-1 this past season and in the national tournament.

I definitely say that every year you coach, you learn something different, and every team you have is different. You learn from each situation, and at the end of the day, it makes you a better coach.

NS: As of right now, would you consider yourself to be a better centerback than any of the players on the team, and could you take on anyone, defensively, in a one-on-one?

GB: The guys here are very good centerbacks. Maybe in my day, seven years ago, I might have been able to take on Josh [Karsten] or Rocco [Taglia] or Franny [Otira], but now I would sure like to try. Especially Josh. I would like to take on Josh one verus one and see how it would go. But the guys here are spectacular. Their athleticism and ability technically is far superior than what I have now. But, back in the day, would have been fun.

NS; Any other hobbies you enjoy besides soccer?

GB: I enjoy spending time with my dog, Rooney. I’m a big Manchester United fan, so when I get time, I like to cheer on the Reds — and definitely I named my dog after Wayne Rooney. Spending time at home with my wife and my dog are the two things I enjoy most.

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