Episode 58: Creating A Dynasty w/ South Kent's Owen Finberg

Episode 58: Creating A Dynasty w/ South Kent's Owen Finberg

Welcome to the 58th episode of the In The 11 Podcast! Today, Brendan Griffiths is joined by

Owen Finberg, and shares about what makes a prep school, specifically South Kent Prep School, unique from all the others, and how it provides a unique experience for playing football.

They talk about the culture of South Kent and how the program is both attractive and repelling at the same time due to its competitive nature. Coach Owen also shares some of the biggest pieces of his 18-year career and how it affects his style at present. Coach Owen shares how he makes a player a part of the team and his psyche of choosing or looking for players before having them join South Kent. A lot more to unpack in this episode so be sure to stay tuned!

The South Kent difference:

Coach Owen shares how prep schools are usually more diverse and also require teaching flexibility since they not only have the traditional grade 9-12 but also another additional year to prepare their students for college. 22 different countries are represented in their community this year and that not only opens up the players to different playstyles but also open to different ideologies and cultures as a person. Coach Owen shares how this is an extraordinary learning experience for a young person, having access to a lot of differences that would have been only available to them if they were to travel.

In terms of athletics though, South Kent prides itself in its competitiveness which causes both being sought after and being avoided by prospects. They allow the prep students to play college-level soccer and they make sure that prospects know what they’re getting into. What they’re going to have to provide as well as what they are going to earn from being a part of South Kent. Coach Owen also shares how they help the students develop a broader outlook as well. Focusing on what’s in front of them is important but they also make it a point to make the players see where they’re going and have a vision of the future, while being a healthy part of the community.

About Owen Finberg:

Coach Finberg joined the South Kent School community in 2004. 2021 will be his 18th season leading the Cardinals Soccer Program. He came to South Kent School after four successful years as head coach at West Nottingham Academy in Maryland.

Coach Finberg prides himself on providing personal attention to each player, accountability to high expectations, and professional training on the field and in all aspects of the development of elite student-athletes. He strives to help players live up to the team's core values of development, excellence, and class in all they do. Instilling these characteristics and the individual attention that each player receives has led to many successes for our players and teams on The Hillside and beyond.

Outline of the Episode:

• [02:25] South Kent, a traditional prep school
• [09:11] Coach Owen’s career and background
• [12:10] How Coach Owen became a part of South Kent
• [17:08] Becoming a part of the community
• [20:19] Dealing with mixing different age groups
• [24:42] How Coach Owen builds a team
• [31:37] Building relationships for young players
• [36:30] The rewards of what Coach Owen does
• [41:25] What makes the program stand out and successful
• [47:40] The highlights of Coach Owen’s career
• [51:59] The competitiveness of the program

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Find Owen Finberg and South Kent on…

Website: