A house built on sand would not withstand a violent storm. The foundation is not stable enough. The house and all that is in it would collapse.

For the past five seasons, former Ashland University women’s soccer head coach Danny Krispinsky has been rebuilding a once decrepit soccer program.

He has garnered over 58 wins and has brought the Eagles to five straight GLIAC tournament appearances, four of those led to a berth in the semifinals.

In March he would be scheduled to play an opponent he has met once before: cancer.

Krispinsky had a previous test against cancer in 2015 and he was able to beat it temporarily. This time it has come back and spread to his brain causing a greater toll on his body.

“It’s not the actual treatment that is too bad, but the effects and the symptoms, those are tough.” Krispinsky said.

Krispinsky underwent 15 straight days of radiation and is still recovering from the symptoms. In the past, he was able to continue coaching but limited himself throughout the season.

However, this past July Krispinsky found himself unable to withstand the force of the storm, it lead to him stepping down as head coach on July 20.

“The main thing was that this time around, when it went to the brain, I started to really experience the effects physically,” Krispinsky said.

Krispinsky said that the symptoms involve burn marks on the skin, face, and head. As a way to make the treatment easier Krispinsky cut off all of his hair and getting used to that was difficult for him.

He has remained in good spirits throughout his recovery because like the soccer program he built from the ground, he has faith built on bedrock.

“Thankfully, we have strong faiths and news like this has come frequently but we still trust and believe that God has a plan for us,” Krispinsky said. “We’re staying strong in our faith and that’s really been the thing that has held us together and been able to get us through this point in the journey.”

Krispinsky is a native of Ashland and his family’s close proximity has been a huge support system for him since he has received the news.

“I’ve been really fortunate that they’re nearby and I can rely on them at any time,” Krispinsky said.

He has also received support from the Ashland community as a whole. Krispinsky said that he has had phone calls, text messages, emails, visits and meals from supporters hoping to provide alleviation and comfort.

The Ashland University Athletic Department has also shown support to him through this process, Krispinsky said.

Upon stepping down, Athletic Director Al King sought out his recommendation for candidates to run the program this season and his first recommendation was Taylor Clark. Clarke’s coaching career began at Ashland University in 2014 when he served as a graduate assistant.

He spent the 2016 season as the assistant men’s soccer coach for the University of North Carolina Wilmington, a Division I program. He helped the Seahawks reach the top 20 of nationally ranked teams while managing recruiting and assisting in all aspects of the program.

Last season, he served as an assistant coach for the Calvin (Mich.) college men’s soccer team. While there he helped orchestrate a 21-1- 1 win season for the Knights that included a berth into the NCAA Division III Sweet Sixteen.

Clarke was on vacation overseas with friends when he was contacted about the opportunity to step in as the interim head coach for Ashland, but he did not hesitate to assume the role.

”It was a bit of a whirlwind because I was away from everything, but it was something that I didn’t really have to think twice about,” Clarke said.

Clarke said Ashland University is special to him because it is where he started his coaching career and there are players on the current roster he coached and helped recruit during his initial stent for the Eagles.

As a graduate assistant in his second year under Krispinsky, Clarke was asked to step in on four occasions while Krispinsky received treatment for his initial bout against cancer.

Clarke also was asked to step in as head coach at Calvin University for a couple of games when head coach Ryan Souders briefly stepped away from the team to attend his brother’s wedding and the birth of his first child.

“It’s kind of weird, but it’s kind of an experience I’ve had before so being able to step in here I felt comfortable. Even though I’ve never been a full-time head coach before this, I’ve been in a head coaching role at times,” Clarke said.

As an assistant in the past Clarke has aimed to be as involved and hands on as possible so that if an opportunity would present itself, he would be ready.

“Something that I’ve always tried to do is be hands on, and know as many things about what it’s like to be a head coach, so when that transition finally happened it wouldn’t be a huge shock to the system.” Clarke said.

Clarke notes that as the head coach you have to formulate more of the training sessions, be more specific with critiquing the techniques of players during film, and maintain connections across campus.

“It kind of just multiplies everything by 10,” Clarke said.

Clarke said the support he received from the athletic department relieved him of the stress that accompanies a new head coach.

“Right away talking to the athletic director, Al King, he put me at ease saying ‘we’re here to do whatever we can to help,’” Clarke said.

Although there was an acclimation process as expected, Clarke’s transition was aided by the backing of the athletic department.

“Every coach has questions going into the season, so that wasn’t anything new, but just having the support has been the biggest factor in helping that transition go smoothly,” Clarke said.

With Krispinsky stepping down, there was also a necessary transition process for the 31 women on the team.

“It is different without him being here because I’ve known him since my sophomore year of high school,” redshirt-junior Deijah Swihart said.

Krispinsky’s nearly 60 wins would not have been possible without the investment of his players, and he has been able to receive that commitment because of the relationships he has developed with his players.

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“I don’t think I’ve ever met someone like him and his wife that are more supportive, caring, and loving,” Swihart said.

Swihart points out that Krispinsky’s kindness and genuine nature were factors that made her want to play for Ashland.

Upon finding out about Krispinsky’s deteriorated health, the team got together and sent him a video proclaiming their appreciation for him.

“I guess it took him a little while to watch, it got very emotional,” Swihart said.

The players have been in communication with Krispinsky to offer their support and assurance as the leader of the program despite his absence.

“They were obviously in contact and just made sure that he’s felt the love and that he’ll always be a part of this program no matter what the capacity of the role looks like,” Clarke said. “Letting him know that he’s played a huge role in their development as soccer players but more importantly as people, and that’s been clear.”

Krispinsky looks forward to strengthening the relationships he has with his players by supporting them throughout the season and being present as much as he is willed to.

“I’ve recruited every single one of these girls and had a relationship and connection with all of them, so now I want to continue to be a role model and somebody that they can come to and I just enjoy them, [I] enjoy their presence and company,” Krispinsky said.

Even though the man who has reestablished Ashland University women’s soccer will be missing from the sidelines this season, the show must go on and what he built must be sustained.

Krispinsky has urged his players that the soccer team is bigger than him and the team has to preserve regardless of his attendance.

“I wouldn’t want them to stop what they’re doing, I’m encouraging them to keep going,” Krispinsky said. “It doesn’t matter who’s in charge, nothing changes as far as what’s expected with the team and the program.”

The Eagles have had to seek out leadership and guidance from within the roster this season to accommodate for the loss of their head coach.

“That’s been our focus: to ask people to step up and take on bigger roles and make a bigger impact for us as a program,” Clarke said.

Nine seniors from the 2017-2018 team passed through the program including three-time All-GLIAC striker Morgan Bittengle, two-time All-GLIAC center Julie Lacock and single game assist record holding forward Kelsey McKernan.

Graduation of these three players has left a void in leadership that must be assessed, applied and assumed.

“For our group now they can take the experience that they saw from last year and the year before and really lead by example going forward,” Krispinsky said.

Swihart and junior Sydney Wright are the teams captains and seniors Leanne Prandi and Sam Malleo also contribute in leadership roles as veterans on the team.

“They’re awesome voices, on and off the field for us, and those four have really taken this group and said ‘okay, here’s what our goals are and here’s what we need to achieve them,” Clarke said.

Even in his absence, Krispinsky is still developing his players as a more reserved Swihart has been called to step out of her comfort zone and assume the position of a vocal leader.

“I think I lead more by example than I am a vocal player, so I guess my role this year was to be more of a vocal player,” Swihart, the former 2015 GLIAC Freshman of the Year, said.

The first team All-GLIAC selection in 2016 said that she is learning to embrace the role of the ‘team mom’ despite her reserved nature.

Swihart’s willingness to extend herself to the team is a testament of Krispinsky’s commitment to developing individuals into committed, selfless, leaders as they go through his program.

“We have a great group of girls here because of what coach Krispinsky has done to help develop good people who are going to be great when they leave AUWS,” Clarke said.

In return for his work as an architect for the AU women’s soccer program, this year’s team wants to reward Krispinsky with something that he’s always strived for: a GLIAC conference championship.

“We’re going to try to win the GLIAC for him, that’s our goal, because we know he wanted it so bad,” Swihart said.