Coaching Carousel

[Kuiper]

I hate to defend this hire (so I won't) but they were kind of between a rock and a hard place with Nazario stepping away basically a month ago.  It may tell a story that none of last year's *three* assistants (who had been there since 2021) are returning, apparently, as Rangel is the only one currently shown on their web site. 

Very true.  Any school with an opening this late is going to have a tough time finding a quality replacement.  Obvious choice is one of the former assistants, but maybe none of them wanted it (they may have all been very part-time with full-time jobs or maybe the old coach was forced out and none of his assistants are willing to support the school after that).  Next step is typically the Women's staff, but that weakens one program to help another and maybe none of them wanted it either. 

Nevertheless, given their location in New Jersey close to Philadelphia (an area that I don't think would be called a "soccer desert") and the fact that they had a full-time opening and could have promised a coach that this would be an audition for a full-time job, you would think they could have found at least someone interested who has coaching experience in soccer, rather than basketball. Heck, there is probably a retired head college coach floating around who would do it to hold down the fort if he had basically no recruiting responsibilities. 

They might have tried all of these options but weren't willing to pay enough.  As a grad assistant, Ringel wasn't getting paid and the basketball coach may have been unsuccessful in helping him find a basketball job and could no longer have him as a grad asst anymore because his grad program ended etc.  So, he may have been willing to accept the lowest end of the salary range.

And, as I said originally, maybe this guy really is one of those people who was born to be a coach, regardless of the sport.  There are some guys who just know how to connect with players, motivate them, and support them.  And while I'm guessing that whatever tactics they employed on his HS team almost a decade ago might not work against the likes of Stevens, Montclair State, and Rowan (three teams on the TCNJ schedule this year), he could bring the element of surprise and thinking outside the box to that part of the coaching job. Maybe we'll see a lot of defenders holding brooms in the air when they are practicing set pieces to simulate the tall defenders like they do in basketball. 

The biggest issue is the one Simple Coach and EnmoreCat allude to - the optics just don't suggest the school cares much about the soccer team. I hope for Ringel's and the players' sake that he creates that Ted Lasso/Disney movie kind of story, but it might serve the school right if that's not what happens and a lot of people are unhappy.

[Ron Boerger]

FWIW I looked up Nazario's salary last year and it was a hair short of $100k.  Of course he did have a natty and lots of years there.

[SierraFD3soccer]

Ted Lasso

Exactly!! Once had a coach who was assigned to coach soccer.  I think the most he knew was we played 11 with one that got to use his hands.  We used to have drills where he said - lets line up in rows of three then two then one. Huhhhh. He was a baseball coach who used to regale us with his cup of coffee the majors over and over. What a waste of a season. Thankfully one of us knew where the bag of balls was.

I also played in the days when the first so-called soccer boom 70's-80's started. Our fields were basically meadows. We used to line up after practice and dig out rocks that surfaced after rains. One field had a cinder track around it so it never drained as the cinders were kept in by a metal barrier. Therefore we had break the ice around the edges. Also, soccer was mixture of American football and maybe some soccer. A lot of tackling and keepers who were bigger and carte blanche to go through the box clearing out people. Not a lot of subtly.  Also we had a lot of athletic lacrosse guys who didn't want to play football, but liked soccer. Not so much today, but back then that was interesting. 

Many kids don't know how lucky they have with the facilities much less actual semi qualified coaches.

[Ejay]

JJ Zaun is a Jr on the TCNJ team. His father Jeff is a former MLS player, college coach and current Technical Director and Academy Director of FC DELCO. You would think he would have had some candidates he could have put forward for consideration?

[Ejay]

The more I think about this TCNJ hire, the more I'm starting to get on board. 

One of the things I've seen often is coaches who stagnate - always doing the same thing.  Tactics don't change, training sessions are the same, they get tired and bored of recruiting, etc. No doubt Rangel will have a steep learning curve, and with no soccer coaching experience his training sessions will be... interesting. 

But I love the youth. I love the competitiveness, I love that everyone has called him a leader (going back to HS), and the moxie he had in accepting the job when many others in his position might be too intimidated tells me a lot about his character.

They've been sub .500 since 2019, so it's not like a 4-16 season will be an indictment on his abilities. I've been complaining out loud for years that TCNJ should be a top 2-3 NJAC team every year. Maybe this is the first step in the return to the top where they really should be IMHO. 

[Kuiper]

Misericordia names Alistair Moore Head Men's Soccer Coach

Alistair Moore has been named the head men's soccer coach at Misericordia University, Chuck Edkins, director of athletics, has announced.

"It is my pleasure to welcome Alistair Moore to Misericordia University and our men's soccer program," said Edkins.  "His experience, knowledge and passion for the game will be tremendous assets to our student-athletes.'

Moore comes to Misericordia after spending five seasons as an assistant coach at Division I Campbell University.

Prior to that, he spent four years as an assistant coach at Roanoke College.

"I would like to thank Coach Edkins and the rest of the search committee for the opportunity to lead the Misericordia men's soccer program," said Moore.  "I'd also like to thank Dustin Fonder at Campbell and Ryan Pflugrad at Roanoke for providing me with the experience needed to run a successful program. I have high expectations for the current players and can't wait to get started at MU."

Moore played one season at Virginia Tech before completing his career at Emory where he helped the Eagles to a UAA championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

He earned his bachelor's degree in psychology from Emory.

[jknezek]

New assistant at W&L. Seems like a solid resume.

https://generalssports.com/news/2024/7/29/josh-gildea-chosen-as-new-assistant-mens-soccer-coach.aspx?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR271bgXR1WnU5c5nQ65Hvtk1dvKB4_3uON8ZoYxj7C1GNQYzLM_xUbT5bI_aem_LN_9Li5KmZ3RNwkH4MEmdw

[Kuiper]

Lamine Balde resigns as Elmira Men's Soccer HC

The Elmira College Department of Athletics announced the resignation of head men's soccer coach Lamine Balde, which is effective this week. Balde will be pursuing an alternative opportunity after leading the Purple & Gold to its first Empire 8 Conference Championship and NCAA Tournament berth in 2023.

The next steps for hiring a head coach to lead the program are underway.

"Lamine is a one of a kind coach and man.", said Faunce. "I am very sad to have him leave the tight-knit Elmira community, not only as a soccer coach, but as a man that everyone loves to be around. We have enjoyed his personality and his efforts immensely, and his family has become one of our own. This is just the beginning for Lamine so continue to follow the name, there are great things ahead for him."

During his three seasons leading the Purple & Gold, Balde has produced one of the most impressive turnarounds from an athletics standpoint in recent institutional history. Taking over prior to the start of the 2021 season, Balde was able to produce a 9-9 record in his opening year, a winning percentage that had not been achieved since the 2012 campaign. In addition to his 2021 team success, Balde mentored four all-conference honorees in Lutho Mlunguza '23, Gavin Wise '22. Moustapha Camara '23, and current assistant coach, Junior Coulibaly '22.

This really leaves Elmira in the lurch with preseason training probably starting in a little over two weeks.  They do have a couple of assistant coaches they could select between as interim head coaches for the season, but they are pretty recent grads.

[Kuiper]

Another very late announcement of a coaching departure

Salve Regina announces that Craig O'Rourke is stepping down after 17 seasons

After 17 campaigns and 2 championships, the program is saddened to announce the departure of Craig O'Rourke II. We would like to thank coach for his years of dedication and commitment to the success of the program.

I suppose one of the assistants could take over as interim, but none of them have coaching experience other than a year or so as an assistant for O'Rourke.

[Kuiper]

Salve Regina posted an ad for an assistant coach of men's soccer today, which suggests either one of the current assistants will be interim and they need a replacement for his job or they hired someone from the outside already.

[Ron Boerger]

Jay Martin, the all-time NCAA wins leader, will retire from Ohio Wesleyan at the end of this season.  Associate head coach Matt Weiss will take over as the Battling Bishops' head coach after the 2024 season.

"It's time," Martin said. "My heart wants me to continue, my brain wants me to continue, but my body says no. I clearly don't have the energy I had 10-20-30 years ago. The irony is that I think I'm a better coach than I was 10-20-30 years ago in terms of tactics, and I think I'm still good at what I think are two of the most important areas of coaching, empowerment of players and relationships, but it's time for someone younger to bring in new energy to the program."

[...]

With a total of 762 wins, Martin is the winningest coach in NCAA men's soccer history. Heading into the 2024 season, he has guided his 46 Battling Bishop soccer teams to a 762-164-81 record. His career winning percentage of .797 entering the 2024 season ranks 14th all-time in the NCAA and fifth in NCAA Division III.

[Kuiper]

Jay Martin, the all-time NCAA wins leader, will retire from Ohio Wesleyan at the end of this season.  Associate head coach Matt Weiss will take over as the Battling Bishops' head coach after the 2024 season.

"It's time," Martin said. "My heart wants me to continue, my brain wants me to continue, but my body says no. I clearly don't have the energy I had 10-20-30 years ago. The irony is that I think I'm a better coach than I was 10-20-30 years ago in terms of tactics, and I think I'm still good at what I think are two of the most important areas of coaching, empowerment of players and relationships, but it's time for someone younger to bring in new energy to the program."

[...]

With a total of 762 wins, Martin is the winningest coach in NCAA men's soccer history. Heading into the 2024 season, he has guided his 46 Battling Bishop soccer teams to a 762-164-81 record. His career winning percentage of .797 entering the 2024 season ranks 14th all-time in the NCAA and fifth in NCAA Division III.

Martin is definitely a legend.  Hope he gets a proper send-off at all of the places his team plays this year.  It's been an off-season of long-time coaches retiring with Skip Roderick (E-Town), Matt Pivirotto (Scranton), George Nazario (TCNJ), Chris Apple (Rochester), Dan Perritano (Penn State Behrend) and Joe Clarke (Wash U) all departing.

Who will be the longest-tenured coaches left in DIII after Martin retires at the end of the 2024 season?  Here's what I've got with at least 30 years, but not all of them spent these years at a single school or even all at DIII and I may be off a year or two on total years in college coaching.  I'm probably missing some too.

Jon Anderson, Babson (39 years)
Bill Swartz, Pomona-Pitzer (37 years)
Ralph Perez, Redlands (36 years)
TJ Kostecky, Bard (36 years)
Pepe Fernandez, Maryville (35 years)
Paul McGinlay, Trinity (TX) (34 years)
Scott Fridley, Anderson (34 years)
Ian MacDonald, Washington & Jefferson (33 years)
Shawn Griffin, Hobart (32 years)
Erick Wagner, Swarthmore (31 years)
Girish Thakar, Westminster (31 years)
Lenny Armuth, Drew (30 years)
Erick Baumann, Dominican (30 years)
Mark Mettrick, Gettysburg (30 years)
John O'Connor, VSU Castleton (30 years)

[Ron Boerger]

Here is the most recent NCAA coaching record book, current as of June:  http://fs.ncaa.org.s3.amazonaws.com/Docs/stats/m_soccer_RB/Coaching.pdf

With 733 wins to date, Tony Tocco, Rockhurst, will take over the active lead once Martin retires - assuming he continues to coach after what will be his (gasp) 55th season at the school. 

[Kuiper]

Dean College hires Warren Backman as new head men's soccer coach

Dean College Vice President of Athletics and Recreation Eric Desmond Lee '08 has announced the hiring of Warren Backman as the next head coach of the men's soccer program.

Backman joins Dean College after spending 2022 and 2023 as the head assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the Suffolk University Men's Soccer team. Wearing multiple hats, Backman created and edited scouting reports and videos for coaching staff review, organized on-campus tours, and meticulously coordinated recruiting visits, handling all aspects from hotel accommodations to transportation. Additionally, Backman played a pivotal role in the organizational aspects of daily practices and games, developing and conducting individual and team training sessions, collaborating closely with head coach Bill Maddock daily.

[Kuiper]

John Haws resigns as head coach of Saint John's Men's Soccer after 14 seasons

Kind of rough to have to replace your head coach at this time of year.  It's the end of an era too because Haws took over for his father, who was head coach there for 32 seasons.  If they need an interim, I suppose he could take over because he is listed as the head coach of the varsity reserve team

John Haws '99 stepped down following 14 seasons as head coach of the Saint John's University soccer program on Thursday, July 18.

The search process for his replacement begins immediately: https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/csbsju/staff/jobs/4585194/head-soccer-coach-event-supervisor.

"I am deeply thankful for the opportunity to have continued the 57-year legacy of my grandfather and father's coaching careers at Saint John's University," Haws said. "I will always hold dear my experience of recruiting, coaching and championing Johnnie student-athletes."

Noel Quinn has been named interim HC of Saint John's men's soccer for this season

Quinn served as the Minnesota United FC's Director of Youth Development from 2020-23 and has been the executive director for the Tonka United Soccer Association in Minnetonka since. He replaces John Haws '99, who resigned July 18 following 14 seasons as head coach.

Quinn served as Haws' assistant coach in 2019 and again during the 2020-21 academic year that saw the Johnnies play six games in the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also assisted former head coach Pat Haws '72 for two seasons, during which time SJU won the MIAC playoff championship in 2005 and the conference's regular-season title in 2006. The Johnnies totaled a 39-18-6 (.667) record, including a 22-7-1 mark in MIAC play, during his four seasons on staff.

"I am excited to step in to help SJU on an interim basis," Quinn said. "SJU is a school and soccer program that is close to my heart and the opportunity to help through this moment of change is very meaningful to me. I look forward to helping SJU set up for the future in a positive way. With the help of the school and the assistant coaches, I believe we can have a successful season that is a rewarding experience for the student-athletes."

A 2002 graduate of the University of Ulster and a native of Belfast, Ireland, Quinn attended SJU in 2000-01 and has 13 years of high-school coaching experience in Minnesota. In addition to stops at Columbia Heights (2006-07), Simley (2008-11) and Eden Prairie (2012-15) High Schools, Quinn led St. Thomas Academy (2016-18) to a state Class A championship in 2016. He accumulated six top-three finishes in seven appearances at the state tournament.