Park of Cottage Grove coach is 400 times a winner

The number 400 might not mean a whole lot to longtime educator and coach Greg Juba.

"For me, it's just a number," Juba said.

But to Park High School, it means everything. The girls' soccer coach notched his 400th career victory Aug. 29 when his team defeated Bemidji 3-0 at home.

Juba isn't defined by his ability to draw up plays and bark orders, although with 31 years of coaching experience he certainly can do that when needed. The versatile, energetic and proactive educator has been able to balance teaching math classes, coaching fall, winter and spring sports every year, serving on committees and giving his time in many other ways.

Park activities director Phil Kuemmel has been more than fortunate to have Juba in the classroom, on the sidelines, in meeting rooms and everywhere else.

"I truly don't know how he fits everything into his schedule," said Kuemmel, who took over as Park's activities director in 2003. "He's just one of those guys -- he just shrugs his shoulders and says 'Well, I just do it.' He's so very, very modest about it, but he just does so much."

Juba took a math job at the high school in 1982 under one condition: He had to start a girls' soccer program. Since then, he has amassed 400-plus victories, six conference championships and six state tournament appearances, including a state championship in 1990 and runner-up finish in 1989.

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame, named head coach of the year in 1989 and 2002 and received the group's George Haun Leadership Award just last year. Juba is also the boys' basketball assistant coach and girls' head golf coach at Park.

"He's doing it all for the kids, not just in Park, not just in Cottage Grove, but so the kids in Minnesota have a good experience," Kuemmel said.

Juba wasn't a great athlete growing up, but his work ethic earned him a letter on the successful Cooper High School basketball team. He later graduated from St. John's University.

His love of the kids and people he's worked with has kept him energized and in the game.

"They've made it difficult for me to get out," said Juba, who has three sons, one who is a sophomore at Park.

While his 400th victory is just a number to Juba, he says it wouldn't have been possible without all the support he and the program have received over the years.

"The milestone is very huge for all the people that were involved," Juba said. "All the athletes, all the coaches that worked with us. Administrators, custodians, all the parents and everybody who supported our program for 31 years."

Why does he do it all? He says it is truly all about the kids.