Justin Bailey is returning to the Plano East boys soccer team, this time as the Panthers’ head coach. Submitted photo

By David Wolman

[email protected]

A familiar face is returning to lead the Plano East boys soccer team.

Justin Bailey, who served as a varsity assistant coach with the Panthers during the 2024 season, is taking over as head coach after spending this past year as an assistant with the Lady Panthers’ soccer team.

“It’s really a dream come true because of how things have come together,” he said. “This is my fifth year in Plano ISD. I’ve been able to coach on both the boys and girls sides. I know that I’ll miss the girls, but I love both sides equally.”

Under Bailey’s guidance, Plano East’s girls soccer team made the playoffs for the first time in 15 years. Now, he hopes to bring that momentum to the boys program, which is seeking its first postseason berth since 2018.

“It was a wild ride,” he said. “The biggest challenge was building that belief because it hadn’t happened in a long time, but I knew that it was the group to do it. It was a really fun ride. I wish we would have done more. I knew that the team was capable of doing more, but it was an amazing experience.”

Bailey grew up in the Austin area, played college soccer at St. Edward’s University and later with the club team at the University of Texas at Austin. He spent two years coaching club soccer and five years coaching at Austin McCallum High School before joining Plano ISD.

Now back with the boys’ team, Bailey inherits a group that has come close to the playoffs in recent years. This spring, Plano East played a pivotal district match against McKinney on March 11. The winner would secure the final postseason spot in District 6-6A. The Panthers led 3-2 at halftime but were outscored 2-0 in the second half, falling 4-3 and missing the playoffs once again.

“Talking to a lot of the boys, there were a lot of nerves,” Bailey said. “The boys hadn’t made the playoffs in eight years. It fell apart at one moment for them. I’m very confident in the team, and they’re very confident with me coming back. I think that we can make a run. We’ve been right there at the finish line but just can’t get across. Each year, we’re going to fight harder and harder to get back.”

Bailey faces the challenge of replacing a large senior class, with 15 players graduating from the 2025 squad. Still, he’s optimistic about the returning talent. The Panthers bring back two experienced midfielders in seniors Myles Dennis and Jordy Rocha, both named to the All-District 6-6A second team. Junior defender Esdras Mercado earned Co-Sophomore of the Year honors.

Notably, the incoming senior class has played under a different head coach each season. Most recently, the program was led by Dennis Willich, who finished 8-8-3 in his lone year at the helm.

Bailey hopes to bring much-needed continuity.

“I live in the area, my wife went to Plano ISD,” he said. “My plan is to stay here long term. The seniors have had a new varsity coach every year. It’s been tough on them.”