When Mendham hosts Randolph at 4 p.m. on Thursday, head coach Russ Raffay won’t be the only one pacing the sidelines. Instead, he will be joined by the school’s first-ever boys soccer coach Bob Lash.

Lash coached the school from 1970 until 1999 and left his signature on the program with a 395-152-46 career record, 10 conference championships, two Morris County Tournament championships (1976 and 1992) and a sectional championship in 1988.

“When someone has nearly 400 wins in soccer, they are very well respected,” Raffay, who has 102 wins himself, said. “I think the kids know what he’s done for Morris County soccer and for Mendham. Anytime he comes in and speaks to my kids, they listen because they respect him.”

Following Lash’s retirement, Tim Rymer took over the program before Raffay became head coach eight years ago. Although he didn’t become head coach until 2011, Raffay has been involved with the program for 20 years meaning that every player that has come through the program has interacted with either Lash or Raffay.

After Lash stepped down, Rymer, who now serves as the principal at West Morris Central, led Mendham to three conference championships and a Morris County Tournament title in 2006.

In 2015, however, Raffay was able to accomplish something Mendham never had before - win a state title.

Jared Beneducci scored two goals, while Julian Montilus and Christian Pedercini provided a goal and an assist apiece to lead Mendham over Toms River South, 4-0, in the Group 3 championship.

And just like that, the hard work put in from three coaches preaching the same traditions had finally come to fruition.

Two years later, Mendham did it again.

This time knocking off Mainland, 2-1, in the 2017 Group 3 behind two goals from All-state forward Calvin Ryan.

Lash was there to see what the program he had started 48 years prior had become.

“During our two state tournament runs, (Lash) came back and spoke to our teams," Raffay said. "In 2015, I brought him in and he was really motivational to the kids. He told them that we didn’t get that opportunity often and that they had to seize the moment. He gave the kids really great advice that they carried into the game.”

Although Mendham is in a rebuild right now with a 4-7-1 record, there will be a sense of magic in the air Thursday as its first-ever coach heads back to the sideline to celebrate 50 years of exceptional soccer.

Richard Greco covers boys soccer for NJ.com and may be reached at rgreco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Richard_V_Greco. Find NJ.com on Facebook.