Coaching Staff
Head Coach, Hardy Kalisher (17th year)
Coach Hardy Kalisher, with the support of the Boulder High Athletic Department, is responsible for the entire boys soccer program. He is the varsity team head coach, directs all preseason and winter soccer programs, conducts tryouts and player placement, supervises and provides support to all the boys soccer teams and players.
Hardy is Boulder High’s longest running boy soccer coach and has led the Panthers during the most successful period in the boys soccer programs 40 season history.
Team Achievements:
Under Hardy’s leadership and direction, the Panthers have reached the Colorado State Playoffs in each of his previous season as varsity head coach, achieved its first State Championship (2012); 2nd State Championship (2016) State Runner Up (2014); 7 Semi-Finals (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019) League Championship (2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017); and the Quarter-finals (2009, 2015, 2021); finished as League Runner Up (2007, 2011, 2013, 2018, 2021-spring, 2021-fall); 15 consecutive years of Colorado 5A Top 10 rankings; 5 National Rankings (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021-spring, 2021-fall) including #1 in the Nation (November, 2016) and #3 (2017); 2 #1 NSCAA Western US Ranking (2016, 2017); 6 Top 10 NSCAA Western USA Ranking (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021-spring, 2021-fall); 11 time Top 15 Ranking in the NSCAA Western USA Rankings (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021-spring, 2021-fall). Boulder High finished the 2016 season the #1 ranked public school in the nation in all 3 major national ranking polls and #2 overall (NSCAA/USA Today, TopDrawer, MaxPreps).
In 2016 Boulder High was named Colorado Boys Team of the Year by both Channel 9 News & Xfinity Sports Report. MaxPreps and the US Army National Guard Honored BHS on their Tour of Champions as one of the top high school boys soccer programs in the country.
Under Coach Hardy, Boulder High players have earned 3 All-Americans, 2 Colorado Player of the Year Awards, 3 5A Player of the Year Honors, 5 All-Region (Western US) and 6 Pre-Season All-American, dozens of All-State honors.
Coaching Honors:
- National High School Boys Soccer Coach of the Year, 2017 (NHSCA)
- All-American Game, West Team Coach, 2017
- National Double-Goal Coach of the Year, 2013 (Positive Coaching Alliance)
- Southwest Coach of the Year, 2016-2017 (NFHS)
- Regional Coach of the Year, 2012, 2016 (NSCAA, United Soccer Coaches)
- Colorado Coach of the Year, 2012, 2016 ( NSCAA, CHSCA, CHSAA, NFHS)
- Boulder County Region Coach of the Year, 3x (Daily Camera, BocoPreps)
- High School League Coach of the Year, 2007, 2012, 2014, 2016
- Colorado Youth Soccer Coach of the Year, 2002
Coaching Background/Education:
Hardy began coaching as a teenager in California in the 1980s. Hardy has coached over 100 boys and girls that have gone on to play collegiate soccer and several that have gone on to play in the MLS and in professional leagues in Europe. Hardy received coaching training in Holland with the KNVB (Dutch National soccer federation, in London at Chelsea FC and in Spain with Real Madrid. Hardy holds a USSF License and regularly attends the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Convention.
Hardy speaks at conferences and symposiums about the value and techniques of establishing a Culture that inspires young men and women to be the best versions of themselves. In 2019, Boulder High Boys Soccer program was featured in leading sports psychologist, Jerry Lynch’s book “Win the Day”.
Hardy has been actively coaching youth soccer in Boulder, Colorado since 1994. He is a former Staff Coach for the Colorado Rapids Academy, Director at Boulder County Force Soccer Club (now known as BC United).
Professional Associations:
– Positive Coaching Alliance
– United Soccer Coaches
– Colorado High School Soccer Coaches Association
– Permanently Registered Coach with CHSAA
Olympic Development Programs:
– US Club Soccer Super Y League ODP, Rocky Mountain Region Lead Scout and National ODP Camp Staff Coach
-US Club Soccer ID2 (Colorado)
Playing Days:
As a student-athlete, Hardy’s collegiate experience includes being a member of the 1992 NCAA Division I National Championship Finalist and West Coast Conference Champions, University of San Diego. In 1990 he played overseas against professional teams in England and Ireland. After college, Hardy played on several semi-professional soccer teams and in adult leagues.
During his high schools days Hardy was team captain, league champion and CIF CCS-California Interscholastic Federation Champion at Sacred Heart Prep in the San Francisco Bay Area. Hardy was the first male student-athlete at Sacred Heart Prep to play NCAA Division I athletics.
Hardy has lived in Boulder County since 1993. Away from soccer, Hardy enjoys the hiking and skiing with his wife, Kendra, and three sons, Owen, Caleb and Landon and two Golden Doodles, Nola and Ruby.
email: hardy.kalisher@bvsd.org| cell: (303)250-8343
Assistant Coach / Game Film Analyst: Bruce Pelz (6th Season)
Bruce was a varsity starter as a freshman at Boulder High. He grew up playing youth soccer in Boulder including several seasons playing for Coach Hardy Kalisher. He played for the University of Colorado Men’s Team and locally in adult leagues. Bruce leads a non-profit in Tanzania, Africa, Maji Safi Group, that helps supply clean water and educate the importance of hygiene for Tanzanian communities in Africa.
Freshmen/Sophomore Head Coach: Jackson McCabe (3rd Season)
Jackson is a former 4 year student-athlete in the BHS Soccer program. He played on all three levels and knows first hand the impact of playing soccer at Boulder High had on his teenage years. As a BHS student, Jackson was the youngest player to play on the US National Paraolymic Soccer team, training at the US Olympic Center in San Diego and representing the US internationally. Jackson was the recipient of the Positive Coaching Alliance Award/Scholarhsip after his senior season at Boulder High. Jackson also coaches youth soccer in Boulder. Jackson is currently in medical school and we are fortunate to have him giving back to Boulder High.
Assistant Coach: Skye Guegan (2nd Season)
Skye is a graduate of the University of Puget Sound where he was a team captain and starting defender. Skye played four years at Boulder High including season on the Fresh/Soph, Junior Varsity and Varsity team. Skye started in the 2014 Colorado 5A State Championship game at Dick’s Sporting Good Park. He was named Colorado 5A All-State in his senior year.