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Stevensville board opens meeting with remembrance of longtime coach Ralph Sorett; board to consider naming options
Summary
Trustee Stephanie Esch opened the Sept. 10 meeting by announcing the death of longtime Stevensville coach Ralph Sorett, reviewing his 32 years of service and saying the board will consider a renaming process for the soccer complex; the public offered condolences and the board invited community input.
Stephanie Esch, a Trustee standing in for Board Chair Ben Meyer, opened the Stevensville School District Board of Trustees meeting on Sept. 10 by announcing the community’s loss of Coach Ralph Sorett and reading a statement from Chair Meyer. "The loss of Ralph Sorett is a sorrow felt well beyond the supporters of the soccer community," Esch said, noting Sorett’s 32 years as head varsity coach and community impact.
The board highlighted Sorett’s contributions to Stevensville athletics and said community interest in naming the soccer complex for him is "understandable and fitting." Esch said the board "hopes to consider renaming the soccer complex in a manner that respects time for mourning and processing" and that the district will engage invested stakeholders in the process.
Why it matters: The board’s statement signals an official recognition of Sorett’s long tenure and opens a formal process for considering facility naming. Any renaming would move forward through the district’s usual public process; Esch emphasized the board will be deliberate and respectful in next steps.
Trustees and community members at the meeting shared personal recollections about Sorett’s mentorship, coaching and community role. A public commenter who identified herself as a former player described Sorett as someone whose "players meant everything to him" and who "poured himself into mentoring players to be the best versions of themselves." The board invited additional public comment specifically about Sorett and then opened general public comment for the remainder of the agenda.
What’s next: The board did not vote on renaming at the Sept. 10 meeting. Esch said the district will involve "invested stakeholders" in any future process and the board will consider the timing and formality of proposals at a later meeting.
