POULSBO — Longtime youth soccer coach Pat Stickney has been hired as head coach of the North Kitsap High School boys’ soccer team, athletic director Al Gleich announced Monday.

Stickney, 60, has coached youth soccer for almost 25 years, including FC United out of Tacoma and FC Kitsap. Gleich said Stickney will bring stability and knowledge to the team.

“He’s just a really steady guy,” Gleich said. “He’s very knowledgeable about coaching and he’s also someone who knows this community well.”

For Stickney, the goal will be getting acclimated to a program as quickly as possible: team tryouts are nearly a month away, March 1.

“I have to have an understanding of what the boys are capable of right away,” Stickney said. “It will all depend on ability.”

Regardless of the level of play, the new coach said he’s excited to get out on the field.

“What I’ll try to stress is to make soccer fun and entertaining,” he said. “Get out there and play with enthusiasm.”

Stickney said his strengths lie in teaching the basics and playing with a focus.

“I’ve been coaching for a long time,” he said. “I hope to bring stability to the program.”

Stickney, a former naval officer at the Keyport installation, did not play soccer in his youth but his coaching resume is lengthy. Starting when he was 37, he began to study the game and has since coached at all ages, from 4 to adult.

“I fell in love with the game immediately,” he said.

Stickney replaces Chris Heins, who left the team after the 2003 season.