After 10 largely successful seasons in the Metro soccer league, it was only a matter of time before a second generation of Burnaby Select stepped forward.
That new generation is 24-year-old Scott Stefanek, a centre back, who shared in the club's first-ever national club title on an under-14 side in 2002.
Over the last 10 seasons, the Burnaby Selects have won three medals at the youth club nationals, including a silver and two Canadian titles, while also winning 11 division banners.
The Selects have won six of nine Coastal A Cup finals, and this season three more teams earned berths at the upcoming provincial championships this summer, bringing the number to 12 of appearances at the B.C.s by the Burnaby club.
Stefanek won one of those Coastal Cups with Burnaby at u-17 and then went on to a national collegiate championship with Capilano University before earning an NCAA Division I athletic scholarship in Florida at Saint Leo University.
After graduating in 2010 from Saint Leo as the soccer team's captain, Stefanek returned home with a double major in psychology and sociology, which he is currently putting to good use in the Coquitlam School District helping at-risk youth. He is now seriously considering working on studying towards a teacher's degree.
At the same time, Stefanek also took on the duties as the first home-grown coach for the Burnaby Selects under-13 spring development team. He will co-coach with 25year-old Darren Nelless and former Cliff Avenue coach Matteo Manfredi.
It's a perfect fit for a coach in-waiting that never dreamed he would one day be on that side of the ball, or classroom.
"My mom and dad always told me I'd be a good teacher, but I said, 'No, no. I'll never do that.' But it just shows they were right. I enjoy getting up every morning and going to work. It's what you look for in a career."
As for the coaching part, that too came from another important mentor - his Div. I coach at Saint Leo - Joel Harrison.
Despite a heavy courseload at university, Stefanek found time to join Harrison on weekends with his youth development program for four-to seven-year-olds in the Tampa area.
"I loved it," said Stefanek. "(Harrison) was excellent at training and games. It was something I wanted to replicate. It inspired me to pay the Burnaby Selects back."
In Stefanek's first game as coach last month, he experienced all the pre-game jitters he knew as a player all over again.
"I was nervous ... but on the sidelines it's a different dynamic. It's a rush. I'm so glad I took this on," he said.
True to his defensive leanings, Stefanek preaches an "If-we-don't-allow-a-goal, we-can't-lose" philosophy.
On-field, he plans to adopt a 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 offensive scheme, but the program is all about development.
"I like the 50 per cent rule (everyone plays half a game). It's the way kids are going to develop. As long as they play half a game, they're still progressing as a player," Stefanek said, adding he plans to continue Burnaby's tradition of conducting itself in a professional manner and producing champions.
"I think it's fantastic. He's going to be a good coach, and he's a genuinely well-respected young man," said club president Frank Palmieri. "He was beautiful when I coached him, and he's proven that by coming back. The kids just love him."
It appears that admiration rubbed off on Stefanek when he was growing his football skills in the Selects' program.
"Coaches show up at every game and practice - it matters," he added. "They treat everyone with respect. That's why I'm back."
