SimpleCoach D3 Soccer YouTube Channel

[SimpleCoach]

So, I just posted what turned out to be a great experience with Coach Dan Wagner of F&M College.  And as a result I think this turned out better that I could have expected.

Coach Dan Wagner, Head Men's Coach, Franklin and Marshall University

Coach Singleton at Washington & Lee up next.  And Friday, Coach Weiler, Women's coach at Johns Hopkins.

[Kuiper]

I came in as a freshman and supplanted a junior. He was the nicest guy on the planet and he went through most of that year and his senior year on the bench. I believe he was even made one of the captains his senior year, which speaks to his demeanor and character.

Looking back, we had a lacrosse coach running things and I guess his philosophy was "don't ever change out a goalie unless he loses a limb" because I never came out. Ever. Even when the games were out of hand or we were playing a much less competent team. Pretty lousy for him.

And, I have to say, I would've sat for my freshman year, but there's no way I'd have signed up for a gig sitting on the bench for multiple years. Bonding and camaraderie aside... That's nice and all... But I sure wasn't wired to sit around for multiple seasons. I looked at the roster and didn't see a situation where I couldn't compete to start. If there'd been a freshmen or a sophomore on that roster, I would've had serious reservations.

I totally get this. There are definitely keepers who aren't comfortable sitting.  In fact, in recruiting, a GK who has always been the only GK on his team is in some ways slightly less attractive than a similarly skilled GK who has had to battle for time with a comparable high-level keeper and has navigated that situation successfully (and not just by winning the starting spot).  That is much more representative of the college experience for a GK.  In D1, where the GKs can and do transfer regularly, coaches sometimes explicitly look for keepers who have high ceilings, but aren't polished and ready (and know that), so that they will be more willing to hang in there until it's their time. Some starting quality D3 GKs had D1 options, but took D3 specifically because of the playing time issue.  It's dicey, since there are no guarantees, but the odds are higher.

I look at it as about managing expectations. If you tell all the GK recruits that they are going to compete for or be in the conversation for starter, you're going to inevitably have multiple unhappy GKs.  If you develop a relationship with a coach and you have a mentor who has guided you to the right level of school, the better coaches will tell you (or at least your mentor/club coach) whether they see you as a potential Starter, Back-up (GK #2-3), or training player, if the team has that many GKs (GK #4-5).  It is realistic that you could see some action at some point if you are 1-3.  It's not realistic at 4-5.  If you take a 4-5 spot, it better be your dream school or a great option even without playing.  As a practical matter, at a D3, spots 4-5 are often kids who just came to the coach after they were admitted or just showed up at tryouts and the coach decided you can never have enough GKs for practice and "just in case." Those GKs are just happy to be there.  It's usually #2 that is the upperclassman who never quite made it to the top and #3 is the freshman/soph developmental keeper.  #1 could be anything from Frosh-Senior.  So, #2 is the most likely to be unhappy, while the rest of them are kind of in the slots they expected or hoped for at this point in their college career.  One less than happy GK you think could play if needed is not so bad because you can motivate them to stay and push the starter and there is a pretty decent chance they will get some playing time over a season.  Plus, they regularly dress/travel for games.  The #3 who thinks they'll get passed over a second year is the one who might quit or leave, but they are the easiest to replace if you're recruiting a GK in almost every class.

Even without any communication from the coach in recruiting, it's pretty easy to look at the GK playing time stats on a roster and figure out whether your coach plays one GK come hell or high water, rotates between 2-3 keepers by game or by half, or just gives a few pity minutes against the weakest opponent on the schedule (sometimes you see three GKs get playing time in the same game, with the last getting 7 minutes or something like that) and/or on senior night.

[Hopkins92]

Yep, just to knock in a sitter:

I looked at the roster and the (very good) starting keeper had graduated, which meant open competition with me, the junior and whoever else showed up. And I wouldn't say I was cocky, but I had some D1 looks and one offer, but I wanted to play AND the educational opportunities at those schools... Let's just say they weren't in the same ballpark as where I wound up. I will say, the place that I got an offer had a future national team coach (not the top, but in the U-17 and U-23 realm.) But I had no way of knowing that was his path. It also, in double-hindsight, wouldn't have made a difference if I HAD known, because I wasn't that good.

But, listening to the journeys of the coaches we've heard so far, I DO think if I'd gone the D1 route, I might've been more pushed to pursue a career in semi-pro ball and later getting into coaching. That's the one place my life/career diverged that I look back on and wonder would could've been... One of my teammate's dad is Welsh, and he used to constantly tell me there was a spot working at his town pub and playing on the semi-pro team waiting for me.

[Hopkins92]

Just listened... Doesn't really change the fact that I don't like playing the Dips, but it (once again) shows you that there's often more going on tactically than you might understand looking at the video feed.

And, the bottom line in all of this is... the bottom line. It's very effective. It also requires a huge commitment from everyone in the program... And that's not easy when you are saying, explicitly, we are a lunch pail team that has (realistic) Final 4 asperations.

Once again, you are getting better and better at these... and the bar wasn't low to begin with!

Keep it up, SC!!

[SimpleCoach]

And another.  This time I speak with Washington and Lee head men's coach, Mike Singleton on his outstanding performance and his goals for next year.

Mike Singleton, Men's Coach at Washington & Lee

[Saint of Old]

They had a great opening weekend in the Tourney including a win against my boys.
A team on the up.
They keep this culture going a few more years and they are all set.

[SimpleCoach]

Hive -

Anyone know of any programs that have a player or players from the Ukraine or have family there?  Would love to speak to them to hear their stories.

Any guidance would be appreciated.

SC

[Ejay]

Hive -

Anyone know of any programs that have a player or players from the Ukraine or have family there?  Would love to speak to them to hear their stories.

Any guidance would be appreciated.

SC

The CUNYAC would be a good place to start...
https://www.brooklyncollegeathletics.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/demyan-turiy/2736
https://johnjayathletics.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/maksym-ivanov/3737
https://ccnyathletics.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/andrey-goryuk/4142

[SimpleCoach]

Hive -

Anyone know of any programs that have a player or players from the Ukraine or have family there?  Would love to speak to them to hear their stories.

Any guidance would be appreciated.

SC

Thanks Ejay!

SC

The CUNYAC would be a good place to start...
https://www.brooklyncollegeathletics.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/demyan-turiy/2736
https://johnjayathletics.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/maksym-ivanov/3737
https://ccnyathletics.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/andrey-goryuk/4142

[SierraFD3soccer]

Great interview of Coach Wagner. True class act.  Full disclosure, I am a parent of player and our son has been incredibly satisfied with his soccer experience at F&M.  I also have a long background in soccer having played in college and a little beyond.  I also coached and refereed for several years. 

I can definitely see some of your criticisms of F&M's style of play and have been critical of many of my son's teams.  However, I am going to push back a bit.  I think you have been overly critical to the point that you are flippant which is fine. 

Our son played D1 soccer and had success, but with a coach change and COVID, he wanted a different experience.  Before F&M, I watched many of games on a computer screen which is substantially different from watching in person especially for one who played, coached and reffed the game. When I saw F&M in person, I got a much different perspective. Plus, I watched the whole game like that. I also know the players and what they are capable of and not capable of.  Due to an incredibly short season and so many games close together, F&M (like many others) had to stitch together what they could do in most games. For instance, in the first Wash. College game, F&M had a key back on a red card and several other key players out because of illness. That said Wash. College out played F&M on that day. Still the team was able to end up the year with some very good wins against good teams to end up 14-4-1 and lose in the 2nd round of NCAA as well as dominate Johns Hopkins 2-0.

Thanks for providing this forum.

[SierraFD3soccer]

Wow.  A great interview with Coach Craig Appleby of Johns Hopkins University.  Appreciate his time and willingness to talk with me.

Craig Appleby, Head Men's Coach, Johns Hopkins University

This was a true long form interview.  I enjoyed it so much, I totally lost track of time.  Will probably break it up into three segments at some point.

Very good interview and William Vanzela is definitely a great keeper coach. He coached our son for several years with his club team and he loved him.  Would be worth talking with him.

[SimpleCoach]

And here is Coach Brandon Bianco at Denison University.  I will be watching as I think he will make Denison into a national power.

Brandon Bianco, Head Men's Coach, Denison University

[Ejay]

100% agree.  I'm a big fan of his.

[SimpleCoach]

So, got to speak with one of my all time favorite collegiate coaches, Jay Martin at Ohio Wesleyan.  So truly enjoyed this one.

Dr. Jay Martin, Head Men's Coach at Ohio Wesleyan University

[stlawus]

I just finished watching this, a phenomenal discussion.   Really interesting to hear about the coaching philosophy of a legend like Dr. Martin.  I always thought he would be heavy on tactics and x's and o's, but it appears he mostly focuses on the mental aspect of the game which is quite a contrast to the rest of the coaching pool.  Given the amount of wins under his belt I think coaches should probably start taking a few pages out his book.