NESCAC

[Jump4Joy]

Shapiro will win COY also you are right since Tufts won the regular season nescac championship they will get in. In the history of the Nescac there has never been a winner of the regular season Nescac and not getting a Pool C.

Mr. Right, as you know, there's no such thing as a regular season NESCAC championship.
Therefore, Tufts has not won anything (yet) this year.

[Bucket]

Shapiro will win COY also you are right since Tufts won the regular season nescac championship they will get in. In the history of the Nescac there has never been a winner of the regular season Nescac and not getting a Pool C.

Mr. Right, as you know, there's no such thing as a regular season NESCAC championship.
Therefore, Tufts has not won anything (yet) this year.

Seconded. What an asinine comment.

[Mr.Right]

I meant the regular season. I should not of even responded because as usual Bucket adds no value to a soccer board but whatever

[MENESCACFAN]

My vote for coach of the year goes to Seabrook.  I think the award should go to the guy who got his group of personnel to over perform, and Colby did that more than anyone in my opinion.  The 0-10 squad from 2013 had one All-NESCAC player Pratt who graduated.  Despite scoring only 6 goals, the group made the playoffs thanks to organization, motivation and discipline.  I can only imagine what a threat they are going to be if the rumors of incoming quality players are true.

Shapiro definitely improved Tufts, but between the meltdown of Kramer at Bowdoin, and first round playoff exit questions of them lacking the cutting edge come crunch time remain.

Thoughts on other coaches in the league.

Murphy - Underperformed in regular season, but despite injuries pulled off a huge result come playoff time to put a positive spin on the season.

Saward - Very good job, riding talented younger group and a final four berth is deserved.  This program noticeably dipped a few years back, but has rebounded.

Wiercinski - Good job.  Big result over Wesleyan, and final four is a decent performance, though not earth shattering for Bowdoin.  I win over Midd next week would make this a very significant year, and Wiercinski a contender for award.

Serpone - Not a bad year by any means,, and likely favorites for another title.  Have to win the championship to hold serve though in my eyes, as they do seem a lot closer to the pack than they have been in years past.  I watched the Colby game, and after an early goal threatened floodgates opening, they struggled in the attacking third for most of the game.

Wheeler - Par year for Wheeler, and by that I mean very good.  Organized and quality team that lack a striker.  Will doubtless be disappointed with first round exit.

Russo - Magnificent career ends on not his greatest showing.  This year won't be remembered, but he will be for a long, long time.

Pilger - Disappointing year.  Seems a long time ago he won the Coach of the Year award.  Missed playoffs, and off field problems with Savonen marred season.

Flaherty - Jekyll and Hyde personified.  Won none in September, went on a tear in October.  Ended 6 year run of no home NESCAC wins with 2-1 win over Conn.  7 points a NESCAC total matched only once in last 6 years in Lewiston.  Decent year.

Nizzi - Big disappointment.  A playoff team last year that seemed on the rise with a senior laden lineup.  They now graduate many starters, and the magnifying glass will be on his recruiting efforts come next fall.

[Corazon]

Ok, MENESCACFAN, you sold me on Seabrook. He did the most with what he had to work with. Looking forward to seeing his first recruiting class perform.

[jumpshot]

Serpone's poor behavior on the sidelines is exceeded only by his failures to beat Williams at home in the NCAA tournament the past two years. Perhaps he should have learned what it is all about from watching Russo ....

[nescac1]

I just want to add to the kudos to Coach Russo.  It's fair to say that his legacy will never be equaled in NESCAC: a national title, six NESCAC titles (would have been a lot more if NESCAC had hosted tournaments prior to 2000), six Final Fours, countless NESCAC POYs and all-Americans, multiple national players of the year, several alums performing at a high level in the MLS and other pro leagues, a substantial and highly-successful coaching tree, and a legacy of class on and off the pitch.  Although this year wasn't the cherry on the sunday that was anticipated, it did hurt to lose for the season two of the team's most dynamic offensive players, and a few other guys didn't quite produce as anticipated.  And going out with two Elite 8 upsets over Amherst in his last three years has to feel pretty darn good. 

It will now be interesting to see who Williams hires to replace the irreplaceable Russo.  Erin Sullivan would, it seems, be the favorite, but this is one of the best D3 coaching jobs in the country and I'm sure there will be no shortage of very strong candidates for the position.  Hopefully Rashid and Westling can return 100 percent next year to give the offense a boost, although the team does lose Grady, who had a breakout senior year, and his production will be tough to match.  Tom Young and Malcolm Mountenot will need to step up as schemers next year, and hope that Rashid can be the primary finisher along with a few of the younger guys from this year's squad.  The Ephs also lose several strong defenders so they will need several unknowns to play on the back line, but at least they could have a potentially physically imposing group if Danilek, Ritter, and Muellers all play in the back.  At least they have more experience at goalie returning.  With the right coach, and a few years of strong recruiting (this year will, I imagine, be a very difficult recruiting year due to the coaching uncertainty), I anticipate that Williams will resume its position among the NESCAC and national soccer powerhouses.  But of course it may take a year or two of transition as the Ephs instill a new system and start to bring in the talent to fit that system. 

[FourMoreYears]

Serpone's poor behavior on the sidelines is exceeded only by his failures to beat Williams at home in the NCAA tournament the past two years. Perhaps he should have learned what it is all about from watching Russo ....

I will agree about the Amherst coach's poor behavior on the sidelines.  It stood out to me in my first year watching NESCAC action.  He's obviously a great coach, he doesn't need to behave the way he does ...

[PaulNewman]

Serpone has done a phenomenal job and over a 5 year stretch has to be considered among the top handful of D3 coaches in the country.  His alleged sideline behavior rubs me the wrong way as well, but why?  Is it the overt displays of competitiveness which conflicts with what we expect from traditional "gentleman's" NESCAC behavior?  As the old guard has been exiting over the past few years maybe it's a good thing to have greater diversity in styles.  I am confident I would complain about Serpone a lot as a fan of an opponent, but that said, he gets my vote for COY.  Other than Tufts (barely) finishing first in the regular season with an extremely talented team that has underachieved and finally has done nothing more so far than meet expectations, I don't see the basis of the argument that Shapiro is a clear-cut choice.  And I wonder if some here would vote the same way if Tufts has an early 1st or 2nd round NCAA exit.  And I don't buy the argument that Tufts had already clinched the #1 seed when they lost a 2-goal lead because of reserves playing, because there still was more to play for than a #1 seed (like making sure team stays on an uptick heading into playoffs and the potential for hosting NCAA games).

[Brother Flounder]

Ditto.......I just want to add to the kudos to Coach Russo.

I would agree that Serpone does not need to act that way, and outside of Amherst fans, most people really detest that behavior.  Recruiting wise, and soccer wise, he does a good job....  My vote goes to Shapiro for COY.  I think he wins by a slight margin.  You state he has a talented team,  well he also had to recruit to get that team something your analysis neglects.

[Corazon]

I just want to add to the kudos to Coach Russo.  It's fair to say that his legacy will never be equaled in NESCAC: a national title, six NESCAC titles (would have been a lot more if NESCAC had hosted tournaments prior to 2000), six Final Fours, countless NESCAC POYs and all-Americans, multiple national players of the year, several alums performing at a high level in the MLS and other pro leagues, a substantial and highly-successful coaching tree, and a legacy of class on and off the pitch.  Although this year wasn't the cherry on the sunday that was anticipated, it did hurt to lose for the season two of the team's most dynamic offensive players, and a few other guys didn't quite produce as anticipated.  And going out with two Elite 8 upsets over Amherst in his last three years has to feel pretty darn good. 

It will now be interesting to see who Williams hires to replace the irreplaceable Russo.  Erin Sullivan would, it seems, be the favorite, but this is one of the best D3 coaching jobs in the country and I'm sure there will be no shortage of very strong candidates for the position.  Hopefully Rashid and Westling can return 100 percent next year to give the offense a boost, although the team does lose Grady, who had a breakout senior year, and his production will be tough to match.  Tom Young and Malcolm Mountenot will need to step up as schemers next year, and hope that Rashid can be the primary finisher along with a few of the younger guys from this year's squad.  The Ephs also lose several strong defenders so they will need several unknowns to play on the back line, but at least they could have a potentially physically imposing group if Danilek, Ritter, and Muellers all play in the back.  At least they have more experience at goalie returning.  With the right coach, and a few years of strong recruiting (this year will, I imagine, be a very difficult recruiting year due to the coaching uncertainty), I anticipate that Williams will resume its position among the NESCAC and national soccer powerhouses.  But of course it may take a year or two of transition as the Ephs instill a new system and start to bring in the talent to fit that system.

I agree with this.  What an unbelievable legacy.  Not sure I envy the next coach as that is a high standard.

[oldonionbag]

Ditto.......I just want to add to the kudos to Coach Russo.

I would agree that Serpone does not need to act that way, and outside of Amherst fans, most people really detest that behavior.  Recruiting wise, and soccer wise, he does a good job....  My vote goes to Shapiro for COY.  I think he wins by a slight margin.  You state he has a talented team,  well he also had to recruit to get that team something your analysis neglects.

Very good point. Are the Tufts seniors playing now his first ever recruiting class? If so, then that's pretty impressive- taking a 2 win team the year prior to starting, and building it into a first place regular season finisher in 4 years at least merits some discussion. It seems as though Tufts receives contributions from FY, sophs, juniors, as well which is another testament to recruiting. If not COY, then is Shapiro the best recruiter?

[Corazon]

Interesting question.  If Shapiro were the coach of Bates or Hamilton, do you think you'd be mentioning him as the best recruiter?  Tufts is such a different product than any other NESCAC - urban, huge, non-LAC.  I think we're comparing apples to oranges.  Tufts seems more of a UAA type school to me.  Did he bring in good players?  Absolutely, but not sure there is another NESCAC which offers a comparable product. 

[soccer69]

Who do we think could be MVP contenders and rookie of the year?

[PaulNewman]

Good point, Corazon.

I think I asked about Tufts RE: the UAA last year.....or maybe that was Johns Hopkins (who I think the reply was that Hopkins had been in the UAA).  Tufts and Hopkins both would make sense as UAA schools.

So now recruiting is the key variable that trumps other criteria?  Are we counting the previous couple of years of underperforming with that great recruiting as part of the calculation?  Is he developing them once they get there?  Do they get better?  Santos was NESCAC Rookie of the Year and 1st team NESCAC AS A FROSH. Hoppenot was 1st team NESCAC as a soph and junior.  Doesn't matter to me at all who wins NESCAC COY, but seems like there's been pushback on disagreement but no real rationale provided as to how the award is deserved.  Serpone has recruited well too, and consistently produced.  There probably hasn't been a week in 3 (or 4?) years when Amherst wasn't ranked in the national top 15, and Tufts STILL hasn't cracked the top 15.