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From the playing days of Aaron Moss all the way down to his three sons, the Moss name has been synonymous with Skaneateles soccer for the past 35 years.

But the chapter for the Moss family with the Skaneateles Lakers has come to an end, with Moss retiring and his youngest son, Tylar Moss, graduating this season.

For veteran varsity assistant coach Pete O’Connor, who has been with Skaneateles soccer for the past 16 years, the final image of Moss with all his sons at his final game was indelible to his legacy.

“Them all together encapsulates Aaron in terms of family first and then his soccer family,” O’Connor said. “Putting family and soccer over your own individual wants and needs. As I saw them outside the stadium together I knew he went out on top.”

Moss retired following the 2021 season after 17 years with the program. In his last year, Skaneateles finished 21-0, winning the Class B state title for the second straight season, and Moss was named the 2021 National Coach of the Year for small public schools by the United Soccer Coaches Convention on Jan. 21. The head coach won two Section III titles during his playing career at Skaneateles before securing three New York state championships and six section titles as a coach, compiling a career record of 246-77-22 as one of central New York’s most successful coaches.

Ethan Pickup, a team captain this season, said Moss left a significant impact on him and the program that won’t be forgotten after the coach’s retirement.

“He cared so much about the team,” Pickup said. “If we won a big game, he would be just as elated as us, if not more, celebrating with a big smile on his face.”

Moss has coached Pickup since he started playing soccer in elementary school as he grew up with Tylar, who was also a captain on Skaneateles’ back-to-back title teams.

“Every banquet I’ve been to, whenever Coach talks about the team he practically holds back tears, which shows how much he cares about the team,” Pickup said.

Moss contributed significantly to the youth soccer community, Moss’ former player George Ross said, always participating in camps, practices or games. Moss usually runs at least two soccer camps every summer, along with the annual State Champ Camp in June, open to players in middle and high school coming up in the program.

Aaron Moss and Skaneateles won the state championships three times during his 17-year tenure as head coach. Courtesy of Pete O’Connor

“Coach Moss was always involved with the soccer community,” Ross said. “He loved to be a part of every level, whether it be in camps, coming to watch a practice or game.”

Ross, who graduated from Skaneateles in 2019 and now plays soccer at St. John Fisher College, said his high school coach helped him reach the collegiate level. Moss was always willing to meet one-on-one with players, something he did with Ross throughout his senior year.

“He taught me how to be a leader, both vocally and by example,” Ross said. “He instilled in me that some days are going to suck, some days are going to be a true grind.”

O’Connor played a “pivotal role” in Moss’ teams as an assistant, Pickup said. Yet O’Connor said that he never saw his role as someone who coached “under” Moss.

“Aaron really ran a program in which all the coaches had a lot of chemistry, which is a part of the success we had,” O’Connor said. “He was always open to doing what is best and what is right for the team.”

O’Connor said that people think he has big shoes to fill with the Lakers, who are in pursuit of a three-peat, but he doesn’t see it that way.

“For me, it’s a matter of putting my stamp on the program and bringing my style and flair to every practice and game,” O’Connor said. “(We want to) continue the legacy we’ve established over the years and keep going, keep kids grounded, focused on giving their best every day so we can have success with the team.”

Published on February 15, 2022 at 7:40 pm

Contact Brooks: baherb@syr.edu