Zeeland East High School

The CHIX will have a new but familiar face guiding the girls soccer program as Liz Bays has been hired as the Zeeland East Girls Varsity Soccer Coach. Bays, a Zeeland East grad, takes over head responsibilities from Emily Slagter who did an incredible job stepping up for the team this past spring. Bays comes to Zeeland East from the Byron Center Soccer Program. For the last four years she has been the varsity soccer assistant for the boys program helping guide the team to their first regional championship and state championship appearance in 2024. She has also been the head coach of the junior varsity program and varsity assistant for the girls team at Byron Center. During this time, the team won State in 2025 and won a district championship in 2026. While at Byron Center, Bays was able to continue to learn her craft from her father, Chad Bays, who coaches the varsity program and longtime varsity coach, John Conlon, who leads the girls program. Additionally, Bays has coached numerous girls and boys club teams over the last few years with Midwest United. She has also earned a USSF level D coaching license. Prior to coaching, Coach Bays played for Zeeland East and then went to Aquinas where she played Goalkeeper for the Saints. She graduated with a degree in elementary education and currently teaches first grade at Corpus Christi School in Holland. We are incredibly excited to have Liz Bays lead our soccer program. She is a student-centered servant leader who has coached and excelled at high levels. Her energy is contagious and we are eager for her to get started! Bays shared the following regarding her new role: Coming back to Zeeland East as the new Varsity Soccer Head Coach is an incredible honor and full-circle moment for me, especially after having the opportunity to play here as a high schooler. I’m excited to build a winning and successful culture rooted in hard work, servant leadership and commitment, while helping our athletes grow into confident players and even better people. Most of all, I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to give back to the Zeeland community that gave so much to me and to continue growing the game of soccer in a place that will always hold a special place in my heart.” Student-athletes and families look for more information from Coach Bays via Final Forms in the coming days. GO CHIX!