By Curtis Ahrens

Special Contribution to Portage Sports

Every coach has been inspired by someone along the way.

This new weekly series on Portage Sports will celebrate the stories and people who influenced today’s high-school coaches in the county.

Today is the story of who inspired Southeast High School boys soccer coach Curtis Ahrens, who wrote his own narrative:

When people ask me which coach inspired me to pursue this career, two men immediately come to mind. One guided my athletic journey for seven pivotal years, while the other has been a constant, steadying presence throughout my entire life.

Bud Simon began as my club soccer coach when I was 12 years old before taking over as the head coach at Southeast High School from 1995 to 1998.

Al Ahrens is my father, and to this day, he remains my most reliable coach.

CURTIS AHRENS

From my earliest memories of playing backyard sports with my brothers to my first organized soccer and baseball teams, my father was always there.

While my mother deserves full credit for logistics — getting us to and from every practice and game — my dad always carved out time from his demanding schedule of full-time work and full-time farming.

He served as our pitching coach at baseball practices and stepped up as my youth soccer coach every autumn.

As I matured as an athlete and shifted my focus to year-round soccer, my father recognized when it was time to pass the torch. Though my developing skill-set eventually outpaced his knowledge of a sport he had never played himself, his presence continued to shape my character.

That next step brought Bud Simon into my life.

Under his tutelage, my understanding of game management and tactical strategy expanded dramatically. The early 1990s were vastly different from today; you couldn’t simply turn on the television and find a live match on any given day.

Bud introduced me to technical aspects of the sport I had never seen before. He took over the program at Southeast High School in 1994 and coached through my four varsity seasons before stepping away after the 1998 season.

Although we lost touch in the years following high school, Bud left a lasting mark on my personal coaching style.

Looking back, I deeply admire his ability to connect with players of varying skill levels, extracting the absolute best from each individual for the greater good of the team.

Throughout my high-school career, my father was right there alongside Bud — though his vantage point was in the stands rather than on the sideline.

He offered a quiet, unspoken brand of support.

He never missed a game.

After every away match, we would ride home together, stopping at whichever fast-food restaurant was along the route for a postgame meal.

On those drives, he listened patiently as I unpacked everything that had happened on the field — and I always had plenty to say.

He would offer gentle pointers and share his perspective.

I didn’t have game film to analyze back then, but my dad ensured I learned to view the game through a spectator’s eyes.

When I moved on to play in college, the distance and schedule made it harder for my parents to attend every match.

Around that same time, my role changed. I was no longer a starter playing every minute as I had in youth and high school. As my playing time diminished, so did my passion for the game; burnout was setting in.

It was during this period that my dad’s coaching evolved into fatherhood in its purest form — showing me that life extends far beyond the scoreboard. While we were never a family for long, emotional speeches, my father led by example, modeling how to conduct oneself with integrity in both professional and personal settings.

I want to extend my sincere gratitude to Tom Nader and Portage Sports for the opportunity to reflect on these two influential men.

Bud Simon and Al Ahrens helped guide, shape, and inspire me to give back to young athletes through coaching.

My hope now is that I can one day offer that same inspiration to the next generation.