For 30-plus years, Rich Savage has coached the Rye girls varsity soccer team.
Conservatively, he’s set up about 158,000 small orange cones for dribbling, passing, and shooting drills. With two state championship titles and numerous section titles to his teams’ illustrious credit, what keeps him going year after year?
“The best part of it all for me is trying to bring out the best in these players every season,” Savage said. “It’s true there is a strong legacy of soccer excellence in our program here at Rye High School, and in our town. And we’re not shy about saying that legacy has been earned. But we try to prepare our players for the rest of their lives through sports. We emphasize the value of hard work, how to win gracefully, how to manage the pain of defeat, and what it means to really care for your teammates. Beyond wins and losses, those are the life lessons our kids will take with them long after they leave Rye.”
Savage’s 2025 squad has been invited to the prestigious New York State Girls Hall of Fame Kick-Off tournament outside of Albany. The Garnets will play two preseason games on Sept. 6 and 7 against talented teams from Nardin Academy and Niskayuna High School. Savage himself will be inducted into the New York State High School Girls Soccer Association Hall of Fame.
“I’m honored and humbled by this honor,” Savage said. “Particularly since I’m still actively coaching. I hope they know I’m not retired yet.”
The Garnets won the state championship in 2023 and made the state semifinals in 2024. Coaches, players, and fans will never forget the many contributions of the Class of 2025. But graduations offer opportunities for new players, and Savage always seems to have a deep bench waiting in the wings.
“A big part of our success as a program is the evolution of Rye Youth Soccer,” he said. “(Boys varsity) coach Jared Small and I have been as committed to youth development in Rye almost as much as we have to coaching our respective teams. Younger players in Rye see how hard our girls work at the varsity level, and they want to grow up and be a part of our program. Somehow, year after year, we get a new group of kids who seem to be a little fitter, a little faster, often a little better skilled — they even eat better. It’s fun to play a small role in that process.”
Rye will be led by four senior captains who were a part of the 2023 state title team: Clare Nemsick, Parker Calhoun, Samantha Yeh, and keeper Tessa Labovitz. Also returning are junior Charlotte Keenan (the 2023 state championship tournament MVP), junior speedster Shira Rand, and sophomore Hannah Jachman.
“Our schedule is tough this year,” Savage said. “But our goals never change. Can we play well enough to win our league? If yes, can we compete for the section? If so, can we go further? We want this to be our athletes’ favorite season. This one. Not their favorite sport, but the season they’ll never forget.”
