Honors continue to pour in for the Bardstown High School girls’ soccer team as Head Coach Martin Bodkin was named  2020 Kentucky Girls High School Coach of the Year for small public schools.  Bodkin was awarded this honor by the KHSAA/United Soccer Coaches Association. His fellow coaches in Kentucky voted him as the recipient. 

The award comes after Bodkin and his team finished the season as 5th Region Champions. Bodkin was hired as the Bardstown Girls’ Head Soccer Coach in 2003. In 17 seasons his teams have brought home five district championships, five Class A region championships, one state regional championships and two state regional runner-up titles. 

Bardstown City Schools Athletic Director Dave Clark believes Martin Bodkin and Bardstown Lady Tigers soccer are synonymous with each other. 

“Martin has built the program into one of the premier programs in the state,” said Clark. “ We appreciate his time and dedication and it is nice to see him recognized for the accomplishments of the Lady Tigers.”

Bodkin’s success in soccer has not all been from the sidelines.  Before moving to the United States he played as an apprentice professional soccer player for Coventry City Football Club in England. His soccer career in the United States began at Lindsey Wilson College where he won two national titles and was the first four-time NAIA All-American in school history. Additionally, he was twice named First-Team All-American and twice earned Third-Team All-American honors during his playing career. Those accomplishments earned him a place in Lindsey Wilson College Athletic Hall of Fame. In 1998, Bodkin accepted a head coach position at St. Catharine College in Springfield, Kentucky. He spent the next five years establishing the college’s soccer program.

In addition to coaching the Bardstown Girls’ Soccer team, Bodkin also coaches several Nelson Elite teams.