Bayer, Don 1996

Don Bayer’s managerial success started at Our Lady of Sorrows but really took off with St. Francis of Assisi.   With club soccer in its early stages, Don was able to acquire some pretty good assistant coaches for his CYC St. Francis of Assisi teams.  Tom Rodgers (HOF 1995) and Larry Hausmann (HOF 1993) joined Don, Rodger Hittler, and Bob Lang to form some of the best youth CYC teams in south county.  Winning CYC championships yearly and developing players that would become some of the best players to come out of the south county area.  Included in this group are Jim Tietjens (2020),  Dominic Barczewski (HOF 2018) and Mike Gallo (HOF 2013).

Don’s success was well noted and soon it was time to take some of the best players from his teams to join the Busch Soccer Club.  The early years of the Club soccer was led by Busch and Don was able to now access another coach to assist in the Busch club family and that would be Bruce Hudson (HOF 2006).  From there Missouri State championships in the Under 14, 16, and 19 would be added to his soccer coaching success.

One of the behind the scene moments was when Don, with the tremendous help from Tom Rodgers, was able to acquire a patch of land on top of Bussen Quarry to form the fields that have been the home field for St. Francis of Assisi.  Bussen Field is in use today and the parish keeps the fields immaculate and with a new concession stand, pavilion, and recently a memorial flag and plaque gives all parishes a chance to play on grass.