Christian Hoefler has been at the head of Queen's Men's Soccer for the past eight years. Under the Hoefler, the Gaels have appeared in the OUA Playoffs in six of seven seasons and is one of few coaches in the region to hold a Canada Soccer "A" License.

While success on the field is always a goal of the program, Hoefler also validates to his team the importance of work off the field and in the community. The team is involved in a number of initiatives throughout the year, including motion ball and supporting Queen's Women's Soccer's Kick for the Cure campaign.

Hoefler said he sees a connection to strong individuals off the field and good players on the field.

"The players who end up doing more for others actually produce and succeed more consistently on the field and in academics than the ones who don't," Hoefler told GoGaelsGo.com. "It's such an influential observation that we brought forward to our leadership core: the desire to help."
 

Hoefler is also very involved in the Junior Gaels soccer program in Kingston (formerly Kingston Clippers). He is the Club Technical Director and oversees the U13-U18 Competitive and Adult programming. Hoefler said he tries to spread a similar message to the younger generation of soccer players.

"Sport, we play it because we enjoy it, but it is a great life teacher.  If you can find a solution to help you have success on the field, that should guide you with a lot of factors off the field. It's not just creating amazing soccer players here, but it's really just bringing the community together with as many good people as possible. Going out into the community and providing those learning experiences so that it betters [the community]. That's a big vision and message that is linked in the Junior Gaels that is fostered by Queen's itself."

Before coaching, Hoefler had a very successful playing career in Canada and Europe. He picked up the sport at the young age of 3, playing with his older brother, and was exposed to the professional game early on while travelling with his parents.

Hoefler's parents are both Chefs and would tour Europe in the Culinary Olympics, giving Hoefler a view of pro soccer that wasn't as prevalent in Canada at the time. Hoefler was noticed by coaches in Germany after tagging along with his older brother on a team trip. From there he eventually played back home for Team Ontario and then Canada's National Junior program.

Hoefler's mother is from Hong Kong and his father is from Austria, and he grew up rooting for Germany and Bayern Munich, but he said it was playing for Canada's Junior team when he adapted allegiances.

"That's when I had a shift of, 'I love this country.' And I put Canada Soccer ahead of Bayern and Germany. The biggest factor behind that was after we visited El Salvador for CONCACAF World Cup Qualifiers, and I was exposed to a whole new world of soccer.  I encountered player's whose only way out of very poor circumstances was through the sport.  That really made me more grateful that I could help Canada Soccer and I could play in a country that I love so much."

Hoefler also played in Europe, spending time with the Stuttgarter Kickers Academy before tearing his ACL on his 18^th birthday. After returning to Canada and finishing high school, Hoefler played in Austria for a while but would return again and play collegiately at Algonquin College, helping the team win a national title.

Hoefler said with the support of his family, playing competitive soccer was always a positive experience for him growing up.

"The circumstances were very positive for me growing up because we had a lot of volunteer coaches at the club that I was at, and especially my brother and my dad, who were both massive soccer fans as well. That helped!

We had a lot of volunteer coaches with experience in the game either professionally or at a high level, so their sons, my teammates, were also quite gifted.  That definitely helped my own progress and development, but also made the experience enjoyable."

After college, Hoefler first worked in the federal government, but said he wanted to remain involved with soccer.

"Because I could no longer play at a high level like I wanted to, especially after graduating, I decided to pursue coaching. And that was the best decision I've made. It fueled that hunger to be in the sport and compete, and by getting my coaching licenses at an earlier age, it also catapulted me ahead."

Hoefler joined the Gaels ahead of the 2014 season. He was coaching with the Ottawa Fury at the time when a chance encounter with Gaels alum Jacob Schroeter while the two were celebrating Germany's win at the 2014 World Cup, led to him learning about the opportunity to coach at Queen's.

While Hoefler said the goal at Queen's each season is to be very successful on the field, it's not the only target he has in mind for the program.

"As much as I want to win at Queen's, I also want the sport to advance in Kingston, in the province, and in our great country. I want as many people to enjoy the sport I love. These are the reasons why I coach, that's what I feel a purpose towards."