HOUGHTON — The Copper Country Soccer Association has a new leader. Earlier this week Houghton native Brian Hutzler assumed the reigns as president of the area’s recreational soccer league.

Hutzler takes over for Matt Kelly, who held the position for two years. Kelly, a professor of Natural Resource Management at Michigan Tech, accepted a new job in New Hampshire.

Hutzler, a project manager at Tech, is no stranger to the CCSA.

he organization began in 1992, and he was on the field not too long after as a player. As well, he has a daughter who plays in the league, and he has volunteer as a coach for a number of years.

“The thing I really appreciate about the CCSA is that it’s a 100 percent rec league,” Hutzler said. “It is a great way to introduce people to the game of soccer and participate in a fun, easy to learn summer activity. I think the product of the CCSA is a nice, low-pressure way to introduce someone to sports who might not necessarily be that athletic.”

Kelly said that the CCSA was coming off a very successful 2019 season. They had more than 600 kids (ages 4-19) sign up to play and had a summer camp with a few international players as instructors. Then COVID-19 struck and canceled the 2020 season.

In April, Kelly sent an email to CCSA parents and organizers announcing his departure. He was concerned that with such a late announcement it might put the 2021 season in jeopardy as well.

“This is not a one-person job,” he explained. “There needed to be a quick transition as we usually start practice and games in mid-May. That was my worry. But, we had people step up and take on leadership positions, and we are going to have a season with one caveat.”

That caveat is that this season will just be for the younger kids (4-12 years). There will be no season for the 13-19 age group.

“In order to comply with COVID-19 protocols, we would have to do rapid testing (regularly) for our 13-19 year olds, and that was just too much with me leaving and a new organizational group starting,” Kelly said.

Hutzler added that the CCSA is making the best of what they have.

“I hope as we move forward, that we can engage kids who haven’t played soccer before to get into the league. Also, we would like the CCSA to lay the roots for high school programs.”

Kelly added that the CCSA will be in good hands under the direction of Hutzler.

“He is very organized, and to run a season, you need to have all the little things lined up and in place.” As well, Brian is a nice guy, and as a nice guy, people will step up to help him.”

This year’s season begins on the last week of July and continues through late September.