D3 Coaches

[Unregistered]

Let's be clear about how many players he has "recruited." He has enticed most of them to take a look at Conn instead of competing NESCAC and other local d3 programs. Since d3 can't offer scholarships, it's disingenuous to imply that he bamboozled anyone by waving a scholarship at them and then pulling it away. He is aggressive in promoting conn and its soccer program, just like every coach does. Like someone said, the Williams and amhersts of the league can sit back and have the good players come to them, so it must come as a surprise that the upstart was able to attract similarly skilled players.
And as for the gripe about only 2 seniors this year, that's easy. He dumped the others, or they left on their own, because they were not willingly or able to inhabit a new Culture that expected them to take soccer more seriously. Womens soccer previously had been a joke, more akin to a campus club team. Some of you see monsters where they don't exist. His players actually like him, which is more than you can say about some other coaches.

This is the level where school is supposed to come first and if this joker is turning his program into a flesh market he is at the wrong level then.

[Unregistered]

Good point regarding roster spots next year and the years following. But since you don't follow Conn soccer you wouldn't know that Riker uses about 18 players (or more) every game (all except the two center backs and goalie get subbed) thus he spreads around his playing time for most of the roster.

Which reminds me of something the original poster ought to look out for: how many substitutes does the coach routinely use? Check out the box scores; if the answer is 4 or fewer, your kid may have to prepare for some serious pine time.

[Unregistered]

This is the level where school is supposed to come first and if this joker is turning his program into a flesh market he is at the wrong level then.

I see. Williams, Bowdoin, Middlebury and Amherst have had successful programs because they make in-season practice optional and any player can slack
Off if she's got a big test that week.

Your animosity towards conn coach is making you irrational.

[Unregistered]

I see. Williams, Bowdoin, Middlebury and Amherst have had successful programs because they make in-season practice optional and any player can slack
Off if she's got a big test that week.

Your animosity towards conn coach is making you irrational.

You can't see the forest for the trees. Guys who run a D3 program like him are using it as a stepping stone. He's just finishing his 4th year. Look for a move either this year or next. Then where will the Conn Women's program be?

[Unregistered]

You can't see the forest for the trees. Guys who run a D3 program like him are using it as a stepping stone. He's just finishing his 4th year. Look for a move either this year or next. Then where will the Conn Women's program be?

Based on what I saw yesterday, a hell of a lot better than they were 4 years ago.

It's clear most of you dolts commenting have no understanding of the difference between a kid that can get into and play in NESCAC vs other D3 schools.

These are kids who have instinctively already placed school in front of soccer or they wouldn't be there. Not sure you really understand what's important to them and to even suggest a coach at a NESCAC school could create a "flesh factory" is so uninformed it's scary.

Just stop please as you are embarrassing yourself.

[Unregistered]

This is the level where school is supposed to come first and if this joker is turning his program into a flesh market he is at the wrong level then.

School does come first, however if you want to be part of the College soccer team it takes a HUGE year round commitment....no different then Williams, Amherst, Bowdoin or Middlebury (to name a few others where school always comes first )....you organize your time, get your academics done and play soccer. there isn't much free time even at D3 level on these successful teams. You know this going in...the coaches are absolutely up front about the commitment before you attend any of these colleges, and about the competition and no guarantees. It may not be D1 but these coaches expect a similar type of commitment. The good news is unlike a D1 where they may be significant financial incentive to stay on the team, if you don't want to play you just walk away and become just a college student (which is perfectly fine).

[Unregistered]

Based on what I saw yesterday, a hell of a lot better than they were 4 years ago.

It's clear most of you dolts commenting have no understanding of the difference between a kid that can get into and play in NESCAC vs other D3 schools.

These are kids who have instinctively already placed school in front of soccer or they wouldn't be there. Not sure you really understand what's important to them and to even suggest a coach at a NESCAC school could create a "flesh factory" is so uninformed it's scary.

Just stop please as you are embarrassing yourself.

Forgot, these NESCAC players are all wunderkinds that apparently are now also impervious to personal feelings. They just love getting their nose ground into the turf so some whacko coach can make a name for himself then jump to D1 :)

[Unregistered]

Forgot, these NESCAC players are all wunderkinds that apparently are now also impervious to personal feelings. They just love getting their nose ground into the turf so some whacko coach can make a name for himself then jump to D1 :)

Sorry that your nose got ground into the turf by some whacko Coach at some point in your life....but it wasn't at a NESCAC.

[Unregistered]

LOL. What do everyone think is going to happen at Conn? You folks are too crazed by your first little bit of success to realize that a blood bath is about to happen on that team. As someone mentioned that coach is pretty ruthless and has already shown he will "run off" players that don't fit with his program. With 18 freshman and sophomores what do you think happens next when he brings in another batch of freshman? The guy only routinely played 2 Sr and 1 Jr this past year, so it is not like he shows a preference to players who pay their dues. Given that there are only 6 Jrs and 3 Srs on the roster, there is also a pretty clear turnover trend. Welcome to the wonderful world of college sports, it's going to be amusing reading all of the angst you folks will undoubtedly generate next fall.

What does paying dues really mean?. You suck but you have for a while now so we are stuck with each other? Every year the Club/Program tries to improve by adding quality to the squad. If you are not getting it done should the coach not make changes because mom brought food to the tailgate every home game? The coach has a job and a responsibility to ALL the players to make their experience a good one. Any player still competing in college is a real competitor and does not want to waste their precious in college propping up some stiff who should no longer be on the team. Improvement is a way to ensure that a player keeps their spot not politics!

[Unregistered]

What does paying dues really mean?. You suck but you have for a while now so we are stuck with each other? Every year the Club/Program tries to improve by adding quality to the squad. If you are not getting it done should the coach not make changes because mom brought food to the tailgate every home game? The coach has a job and a responsibility to ALL the players to make their experience a good one. Any player still competing in college is a real competitor and does not want to waste their precious in college propping up some stiff who should no longer be on the team. Improvement is a way to ensure that a player keeps their spot not politics!

Wow. Wonder how many kids are just wasting their time in this program so the coach and a couple of ego fed parents can have their college soccer fantasy fulfilled?

[Unregistered]

Wow. Wonder how many kids are just wasting their time in this program so the coach and a couple of ego fed parents can have their college soccer fantasy fulfilled?

Amazing that parents are still ranting about Coaches and playing time at the college level....get over it. It's D3...if you don't like the Coach then stop playing.

[Unregistered]

LOL, this thread is all about pontification.

Bottom line with this thread is that you all are making a mountain out of a mole hill here. You do not turn down greats schools like a Tufts or Trinity or any D3 for that matter simply because of something you perceive to be wrong with their soccer program. That is putting too much weight on soccer at a level where sports are an ancillary activity to the academic mission. It should carry about the same weight as the food and the dorms. In other words it should be a secondary variable, something that matters but not anywhere near a deal breaker.

At this level the primary reason you pick one school over another is the academic reputation and it's fit with your child's academic goals. Sure you go taste the food and look at a dorm room get the rest of the fit right. You even go meet the coach and talk to them about the team but some of you want to make the soccer piece way way more than it is intended to be. Anyone who would either pick or walk away from a school at this level simply because of soccer would be a fool so putting as much energy as some of you apparently are into getting the soccer fit right is foolish.

What if you're picking between a bunch of NESCAC schools, ass-wipe?

BTW, even if you're a player who earns some portion of an athletic scholarship, the soccer is no more meaningful (or less) than those playing DI without athletic money or those playing DIII.

[Unregistered]

What if you're picking between a bunch of NESCAC schools, ass-wipe?

BTW, even if you're a player who earns some portion of an athletic scholarship, the soccer is no more meaningful (or less) than those playing DI without athletic money or those playing DIII.

Should be evident. You pick the best school and forget all of the hogwash about soccer. The reality here is Conn College is the lowest ranked academic school in the conference.

[Unregistered]

What if you're picking between a bunch of NESCAC schools, ass-wipe?

BTW, even if you're a player who earns some portion of an athletic scholarship, the soccer is no more meaningful (or less) than those playing DI without athletic money or those playing DIII.

May be one of the more ridiculous statements written on TS in a while. As they say money talks BS walks. Even if a player is getting what is functionally an average scholarship that works out to roughly 50% on the girls side. With educations crossing the $60,000 mark, that translates into an awful lot of money. If you want to say that the education at a school like Conn College is better than a Patriot League school like Holy Cross or Colgate you are welcome to that opinion but don't insult everyone's intelligence by suggesting that money doesn't equalize the margin quite a bit.

[Unregistered]

Should be evident. You pick the best school and forget all of the hogwash about soccer. The reality here is Conn College is the lowest ranked academic school in the conference.

Probably why CC is starting to kick ass. Getting better players in the mix who may not have the academic chops for Williams or Amherst. Still a great school.