CORVALLIS -- Dan Finnen,   coach of the Corvallis High School girls soccer team, died Thursday night at his home. He was 40 years old.  

Corvallis High athletic director Bob Holt   said the cause of death is unknown but family members and friends are "thinking it was a heart attack."

Holt said he notified members of the high school soccer program early Friday morning through phone calls and met with team captains Friday afternoon. An e-mail also was sent to parents of high school students informing them that Finnen, who was a school counselor, had died.

Finnen had been a part of the Corvallis soccer programs since 1995, first as an assistant boys coach, then as head boys coach and, for the last four years, as head girls coach. The Spartans won the Mid-Willamette Conference title outright in 2006 and 2008 and shared it with crosstown rival Crescent Valley in 2007. Corvallis reached the Class 5A state semifinals in 2007.  

"He definitely pushed us really hard," said Jessica McGowan,   a soccer player who had Finnen has a counselor. "But he was always there for us. It's really sad."

Finnen is survived by his wife, Amy,   and his daughter, Danelle,   who will be a senior at Corvallis.