The Fountain Hills High School girls soccer team is about to embark on a new season with a new coach who brings plenty of experience to the table.

Matt Wiehl, the new head coach for the soccer team, has been coaching both boys and girls soccer for a large part of his life.

Prior to coming to Arizona, Wiehl spent 10 years coaching boys high school soccer in Virginia. Before he left that high school, Wiehl started the girls soccer program.

“Most recently I was at Valley Christian coaching the boys team for the past five years,” Wiehl said. “Prior to that I was part of the startup of men’s soccer at what is now Arizona Christian University. [I] served both as assistant and coach.”

Wiehl heard about the girls coaching position through FHHS boys soccer coach, Matt Pugliano. Wiehl, who had been unsure about returning at all to coaching this season, heard about the opportunity on a Monday and was interviewing by that Friday.

Wiehl loves to coach but was also enticed to Fountain Hills because of the community.

“Really, what I think sold me on coming up here was that I coached girls soccer previously in Virginia and that was a spectacular experience,” Wiehl said. “And the other thing is I love the community feeling here. I grew up in a small town just like it in Wisconsin.”

Wiehl says that the first weeks of practice have been a chance for him and the Lady Falcons to get acquainted with each other.

“It has really been me taking as many opportunities as possible to teach them my system; my way of doing things,” Wiehl said. “But at the same time, [I’m] respecting that I am their third coach in three seasons. So [it’s been] them getting to know me and my systems and me getting to know their strengths and weaknesses.”

Wiehl said he is excited about the diverse talent that is on the team.

“We have about six seniors,” Wiehl said. “We really have good representation from all of the classes, ninth through twelfth. We have two freshmen who will be able to contribute right away. So we have some good young talent but also players that have some state championship background who know what it takes to get there.”

Wiehl said players to look out for include defender Taylor Helm, forward Hailey Devore and forward Lindsey McMahon.

The first regular season match will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 4, beginning at 4 p.m. at Phoenix Country Day School.