All season, Liberty associate head coach Brad Soucie has been fighting for victories on the court with the Flames and, more importantly, off the court with his wife.
Freshly promoted to associate head coach during the offseason, Soucie and the Flames have won 28 games, including a share of the ASUN regular season title and the conference tournament title to advance to the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
All during that time, Soucie and his wife, Kendra, have been fighting cancer as she was diagnosed with breast cancer in September.
“It’s been tough,” Coach Soucie explained this week. “Just trying to do more things to help her, serve her. Obviously, there are a lot of demands on us during our season, but God has been good, and her progress has been going well.”
Brad says his wife is doing well, but just the daily, constant battle can be draining. They have chosen to forgo chemo and surgery and instead are utilizing more “natural path type” of treatments.
Immediately after the Flames broke through, beating Lipscomb, to win the ASUN Tournament and advance to the NCAA Tournament, Soucie was seen on the bench, head in his hands, as the emotions of the moment overtook him.
“Just a lot of emotions coming together,” Soucie said of that moment. “With the team, the season, and just what I’m going through with my personal life, just everything coming together.”
Guard Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz quickly went to Soucie’s side to console him.
Photo courtesy Tyler Davis, Liberty University
“I saw Coach Souc crying,” Pacheco-Ortiz said of that moment. “I had to go over to him and hug him, and just thank him for everything he has done for me since day one. Even through all the struggles, he still showed up here. He showed up to our practice, to every meeting, to show the commitment he had, even though he had the situation at home, it just showed his commitment and his character. He is tough, one of the toughest persons I’ve ever met in my life.”
Kendra was unable to make the game, but quickly afterwards they exchanged a phone call.
“She was really excited,” Coach Soucie said of the phone call. “She wished she could have come (to the game). She wasn’t able to be there, but it was exciting. It was a fun time. I wish (my wife and 3 children) could have been there and experienced it, but I think they will be able to come to the NCAA Tournament.”
And hopefully the Flames can bring more moments of joy for Soucie and his family during the Big Dance beginning Friday night in San Jose against Mississippi State.
