Archive for Soccer team

ROSTER FOR 2021 COMMUNITY COLLEGE WOMEN’S SOCCER TEAM ANNOUNCED: 20% FROM YAVAPAI COUNTY; NEW PROGRAM MAY BRING COLLEGE INTO COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL TITLE IX

Nears 25% minimum number of students from Yavapai County on Community College athletic teams, which was goal set in February 2021

Yavapai Community College’s Women’s Soccer Team roster for 2021 has been announced.  This will be the first season for this soccer team.

The roster is composed of  20% of its players coming from Yavapai County, which is nearing the 25% figure the Administration has set as a minimum goal in its recruiting efforts for its various athletic teams.  At the February 2021 Board meeting where this issue was last discussed, Athletic Director Brad Clifford reported to the Board that in 2020-2021, only five of the student athletes in total were from Yavapai County. At the time, the Community College had baseball, softball, men’s soccer, and volleyball programs.

 Only 15% of the players on the 2021 Women’s Soccer team are from out-state with the remaining 65% coming from counties outside Yavapai but living in the state of Arizona.

The issue of the lack of Yavapai County athletes on the taxpayer supported Community College teams has been a regular question raised by Third District Governing Board representative Mr. Paul Chevalier, who has urged a change in the policy.  One explanation given by Mr. Clifford in February to the College Governing Board for the low number of County students in the athletic program was that “the best student-athletes in Yavapai County want to leave the County to pursue their athletic endeavors.” He did not discuss whether lowering  recruiting standards slightly might generate more athletes from the County.

Mr. Clifford also said that “the [athletic] department’s policy is to recruit within the County first.”  However, “due to sheer numbers,” he said, “most recruiting is done outside of Yavapai County.

At the  April 2021 Governing Board meeting, the  Community College Administration publicly revealed that it was in a difficult position because of a “high risk” of a potential civil rights violation.  The reason for this, as explained to the Governing Board, was  that the College  had failed to comply with federal law, specifically Title IX.  It was also explained that this was one of the first issues addressed by Dr. Lisa Rhine, the Community College President,  following her hiring.

Yavapai Community College Vice President of Community Relations and Student Development, Dr. Rodney Jenkins,  told the Governing Board at the April meeting that “to be out of compliance with Title IX and know it, is a dangerous line to walk.  We are now very close to being in compliance once we field this [women’s soccer] team and add a couple other components. [Then] “we will be within the 54th percentile range, where we should be” with federal civil rights law.

 

ANDRE LUCIANO NEW HEAD COACH OF THE MEN’S SOCCER PROGRAM; UNTIL 2018 SPENT 18 YEARS AS NAU WOMEN’S SOCCER COACH

Alumnus of Yavapai Community College, class of 1991

Yavapai Community College has announced the hiring of  Andre Luciano as the  new head coach of the men’s soccer program.

Coach Luciano (Photo NAUathletics.com)

Mr. Luciano is an alumnus of the 1991 class at Yavapai Community College. He was an athlete on the Men’s Soccer team from 1989 – 91 and was a member of N-J-C-A-A National Championship team of 1990 being named I-S-A-A / Adidas Goalkeeper of the Year and the N-J-C-A-A Tournament Most Valuable Goalkeeper.  After Yavapai Community College, Mr. Luciano attended Indiana University where he earned the distinction as one of the top goalkeepers in the country. He is credited with leading his team to two Big Ten titles and two trips to the N-J-C-A-A National Tournament.

After graduating from Indiana University, Mr.  Luciano spent two seasons as an assistant for the University of Arizona soccer program. He has also worked with Washington, Arizona and Nevada Olympic Development Programs (ODP), and was an assistant coach for the Utah State women’s program in 1998.

In 2018 Mr. Luciano resigned from Northern Arizona University where he had been the soccer coach for eighteen seasons.  Mr. Lucian speaks seven languages. He calls his  U.S. hometown  Las Vegas, Nevada although he will quickly tell you that his  actual hometown is São Paulo, Brazil.

In an interview regarding the appointment to Yavapai Community College,  Mr. Luciano said that  “[i]t has been a dream of mine for 30 years to return to a place that I have called home and spoken so fondly of throughout my career as a player and coach. I owe [former Yavapai College Men’s Soccer Head Coach] Mike Pantalione an incredible amount of gratitude for believing in me as a 19-year-old from Las Vegas and changing my life by creating a program that has been synonymous with success in the classroom and on the field. I also would like to thank Athletic Director Brad Clifford for entrusting me with the responsibility of not only being the coach but a mentor for the young men that wear the uniform for Yavapai College Soccer.”

The first game for the Community College soccer team in the Covid-19 delayed season  will be Thursday, April 1 against the College of Southern Nevada.

Sources: University of Northern Arizona; February 11 article by staff of signals.  You may read the signals article online by clicking here. https://www.signalsaz.com/articles/yavapai-college-alumni-andre-luciano-named-new-mens-soccer-coach/#:~:text=Yavapai%20College%20Athletics%20is%20pleased,of%20the%20men’s%20soccer%20program.

MIKE PANTALIONE RETIRES IN MID-JANUARY AFTER A 32-YEAR CAREER AS HEAD SOCCER COACH AT YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Nation’s Winningest Soccer Coach with .900 winning percentage and an average of 20 wins a season

Yavapai Community College’s Mike Pantalione retired in mid-January after a 32-year career as head soccer coach at Yavapai Community College.  He started as head soccer coach in 1988.

Mr. Pantalione received his decree from the University of Montana. According to an article in the February 25, 2021 QUADCITIES by Mr. Ray Newton, “prior to that, Pantalione had been coaching and directing soccer programs in England and then the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, Kenyon College in Ohio, Jesuit High School in Portland, and Archbishop Wood High School in Philadelphia. In all, he has been active in soccer for 40 years.”

Pantalione is considered an “ icon in the Quad Cities and even more so in the collegiate soccer world,” wrote Mr. Newton.  He also wrote that: “No men’s soccer coach in the nation has a record that even comes close to Pantalione’s .900 winning percentage. He is the only coach in intercollegiate soccer to average more than 20 wins a season.”

“A Hall of Fame recipient, he coached the Roughriders to several National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) championships. His team won its first national championship in 1990 – two years after he founded the team. The Roughriders won national championships again in 1992, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2007 and 2009.”

You may read the entire in-depth great article on Mr. Panalione’s life and contributions to soccer locally and nationally in Mr. Newton’s story in the QUADCITES.  You can read the program on line by clicking here or going to  https://www.quadcitiesbusinessnews.com/nations-winningest-soccer-coach-retires/?fbclid=IwAR0yOArsW9H9q-8olKamXY9Hnb2GqRGrshQYisaJTMMQAMxqtMPTL3ydkig.

CONSTRUCTION OF PRACTICE SOCCER FIELD ON PRESCOTT CAMPUS COMPLETED; BATTER’S EYE ADDED TO BASEBALL FIELD

Sodding, rip rap for erosion control along the practice soccer field parameter in place for January 1 use

The new soccer practice field on the Prescott Campus is complete.  Work sodding the field and installing rip rap for erosion control were the last phases of the project.   The soccer practice field should be ready for use by January 1. 

Below are some photos from the Community College’s December 2020 Facilities Management newsletter showing completion of the work on the practice facility and installation of the batter’s eye screening at the baseball park.

 

Batter’s Eye

 

 

NEW WOMEN’S SOCCER PROGRAM COMING TO YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN 2021

Recruiting for the 2021 season already  underway

Yavapai Community College has announced it has begun recruiting for its new women’s soccer program.   The program will begin in the fall 2021 at the new soccer field on the Prescott Campus. 

The Community College has made a commitment to the District Governing Board that it will seek to recruit players from Yavapai County. However, out-of-county and out-of-state players more easily help it fill up its residence halls.  Only  time will tell if it can and does carry out the commitment to recruit significant numbers of women soccer players from the County. 

The College has not made public any estimate of the overall real cost to the Community College of adding a new sports program such as this one to its athletic department.

The following is the announcement about the soccer program made by the Community College on Facebook earlier this week.

Yavapai College has announced the addition of women’s intercollegiate soccer to their championship athletic department starting in the fall of 2021.

The Roughriders will compete in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference (ACCAC) of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). There are currently 11 other women’s soccer programs in the ACCAC.

The women’s program will be featured in home and away doubleheaders with the existing Yavapai College men’s soccer program, winners of 78 conference, region, district, and national championships.

“I am very excited about this announcement and the opportunity to offer women’s soccer to our communities in Yavapai County,” said Brad Clifford, Director of Athletics. “The popularity of women’s soccer is at an all-time high right now, and I am ecstatic to see the growth of this program in the coming years. We have had tremendous success with our men’s soccer program, and I am anticipating the women’s program having the same success.”

Women’s soccer will join four other Roughrider athletic programs, including the aforementioned men’s soccer team, baseball, softball, and women’s volleyball.

Yavapai College expects to have its new head women’s soccer coach on campus by January 2021. The position will be posted on the college web site starting in October, with interviews following in November and the appointment of the first head coach for Yavapai College women’s soccer to be announced in December.

Yavapai College, its athletic department, and the community are excited to present this opportunity to interested candidates looking to use soccer as a means to continue their education.

Recruitment has begun for quality student-athletes who exhibit a commitment to academics and the advanced skills to play NJCAA Division I level soccer. Young ladies interested in being one of the pioneers of the program should complete and submit a women’s soccer recruiting form located on the athletic web site.

For more information on Yavapai College Athletics, visit www.goroughriders.com or contact Kelsey English, Assistant Athletic Director – Operations, at [email protected].

WORK ON SOCCER FIELD ON PRESCOTT CAMPUS MOVING AHEAD

Fencing, net structure installed; field is 160` x 230`

The work on the (multi-purpose) soccer field continues on the Prescott Campus of Yavapai Community College.  According to the August 2020 Facilities Management Newsletter, work continues with the “installation of soil, fencing/net structure, and rip rap for around the parameter of the new field. When finished, the field will measure 160’ x 230’ and is located just north of Kachina Hall.”

The project has been funded through the Yavapai College Foundation.  When completed, it  will consist of an irrigated grass field, fence, and netting along with a gravel path around the exterior.

It is noted that the only athletic fields in the District that consists of  two campuses and four centers are in Prescott/Prescott Valley.  There are none on the east side of the County.

Photo from Community College Facilities Management August Newsletter.

NJCAA SAYS YAVAPAI SOCCER AND VOLLEYBALL MUST SHIFT FROM FALL TO SPRING SEMESTER

All close contact fall sports to be held in spring semester; fall practice apparently possible

Following the recommendations from the NJCAA Presidential Advisory Council and the NJCAA Board of Regents, the NJCAA  announced on Monday, July 13 its adjusted plan of action for the upcoming 2020-21 academic year. Following the Board of Regents’ vote on Monday, a majority of competition will be moved to the spring semester.

The most recent plan of action shifts all close-contact fall sports to the spring semester. These sports include men’s soccer, and women’s court volleyball.

So far, spring sports competition remains intact with minor adjustments to dates. These sports include baseball and  softball.

Along with the adjustments to competition season and championship dates, the NJCAA has provided Yavapai Community College information as it relates to scrimmage and practice dates and allowances in the fall. It is believed, although not confirmed by the Blog, that the NJCAA may allow fall practice sessions in close contact sports.

Source: NJCAA home page  https://www.njcaa.org/general/2019-20/releases/20200713l9o7t8

 

FOUNDATION FORMALLY GIVES YAVAPAI COMMUNITY COLLEGE $200,000 FOR PRACTICE SOCCER FIELD ON CAMPUS

Foundation made formal decision in April to provide the funds to construct (in the Blog’s view) the unneeded facility

The Yavapai Community College Foundation formally awarded the College $200,000 to build a practice field for the soccer team in April.  The announcement was made by the District Governing Board Chair, Deb McCasland, at the May meeting.

The soccer team currently practices at two fields: one in Prescott and a second in Prescott Valley. It has done so for years and held major competitions at these excellent facilities.  It has also operated its summer camps at them. It intends to use these fields for its games.

According to Chair McCasland’s announcement, the new field adjacent student residence halls will “allow the men and women soccer teams to practice on campus as well as  holding revenue generating camps and clinics.”

As readers of this Blog are aware,  the Blog has long opposed  allocating scarce funds for  an unneeded soccer field of any kind.  From the Blog’s perspective, the money would be much better spent to provide scholarships to financially struggling,  deserving students. 

You may view a clip of the announcement below.

BLOG ERRED WHEN DESCRIBING COST OF SOCCER FIELD; FOUNDATION WILL PAY $200,000 FOR CONSTRUCTION, WHICH IS A HUGE REDUCTION FROM THE $2.65 MILLION INDICATED LAST YEAR; COLLEGE TO PAY ITS STAFF FOR HELP CONSTRUCTING FIELD BUT NOTHING ELSE

Initial claim by Blog in commentary that College would pay $200,000 and Foundation a portion of $700,000 donated funds it was receiving from unnamed source  was incorrect.

In the Blog Commentary of Friday, April 10 the author of the commentary (me) incorrectly stated the total cost of the soccer (multi-use) field the Community College is now building on the Prescott Campus.  The information received by the Blog, which it believes is correct,  is that the Community College Foundation will pay $200,000 toward construction of the facility and the College will pay its staff for working on the project.  (There is no indication of how much staff time is associated with the project.)

The $200,000 is a part of a $700,000 donation to the Foundation from a so-far unnamed source.  Of that $700,000,  $500,000 is going to pay for a “Technical Theater Building” on the Prescott Campus and $200,000 for building the soccer (multi-use) field.

It should be noted that the Governing Board has not finalized approval of the project, although the absence of discussion about the project at April’s budget portion of the meeting strongly suggested there was no disagreement among its members about the project. The final vote on the Budget that includes the soccer (multi-use) field comes next month where the Blog expects final approval.

The Blog apologizes for the error.

 

WORK BEGINS ON NONESSENTIAL SOCCER FIELD ON PRESCOTT CAMPUS; FOUNDATION REDUCES CONTRIBUTION FROM ORIGINAL $2.65 MILLION TO UNDER $700,000 FOR PROJECT; COLLEGE SAYS IT WILL PUT IN ONLY $200,000; ALREADY SPENT HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS TO IMPROVE PARKING IN AREA FOR IT IN PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION

Relentless pressure from soccer community  over the past several years plus  a donation from the Yavapai Community College  Foundation bring  project to life; no opposition from  the Board

Commentary

The idea of a soccer field for the Prescott Campus was a part of the ten-year $103.5 million dollar development plan unveiled back in December 2012.  Recall that at that time well over 95% of the development funds were to go to facilities on the west side of Mingus Mountain.  Scattered among the millions of dollars was the idea of a soccer field.

In part the original 2012 Development plan stated that:

“Yavapai College has a solid reputation as a very competitive soccer program having won seven National titles in the past 25 years. This development would allow the team to practice and play on campus thus boosting student and community involvement alike. The recommendation is for a lit synthetic field due to the multiple activities and year-round uses being envisioned.” (“https://masterplan.yc.edu/files/2014/01/Final-Report-RPT-2014-0218-WEB_UPDATED.pdf)

Since 2012, a portion of the original project has been removed.  For example, including the Events Center as a part of the project is gone.  However, there is no information about what precisely the College plans to build with a total now budgeted at  $900,000 (College $200,000; Foundation $700,000)  in expenses plus all the time to be put in to the project by its own staff.  Does it include locker rooms now or will they appear in the future?  Or never. (See original plan.) Will concessions be built under grandstands now, in the future, never?  (See original plan.) Training space for NARTA (College just finished training facility for NARTA)  Lit field? Now? In the future?  Never?  (Original plan.)  Synthetic field?  (Claim grass field now) (See original plan.)  Nobody knows because the public has never seen a copy of the new plan.  (And what are the future plans for construction of it, if any?)

Recall that the first step in this project, taken by former president Penelope Wills,  caused  about $1 million to be  moved from the  capital construction  budget into the maintenance budget. Those funds were used to prepare a 280 space parking lot for the facility; work that has apparently already been completed.

The project  is called a “multi-use” facility rather than, in the Blog’s view, its real purpose, which is a field for the soccer team.  It will be used, sometimes the Blog has been informed, for graduation and some other events thus allowing it to be called “multi-use.”

Exactly how much it will cost when it is completed seems questionable.  The Foundation had promised $1.5 million in the 2016 budget to construct the facility. (See 2016 budget below.)  In 2019 the the Foundation indicated it would donate an astonishing $2.65 million. (See 2019 budget below).  This year, the Foundation contribution  has been reduced to sharing $700,000 with the technical theater.

Former President Penny Wills had promised the soccer community that she would build such a facility, despite the fact the team already  plays on two excellent fields—one in Prescott and another in Prescott Valley. (The College  has hosted major regional and national soccer events on these fields.)  While the incredible expenditures originally budgeted for the project have been reduced, there remains no  reasonable need, in the opinion of the Blog, for the field and the expenditure of any taxpayer  money to build  and then support  it. There are far greater educational needs!

This is a project to watch carefully as scarce taxpayer funds are being put into it. It is likewise disappointing that donors to the Community College Foundation will find that  rather than use their money for  scholarships, faculty salaries, and programs, it is being used for the nonessential field.   Moreover, the real cost, which involves the use of Yavapai Community College employees to build it, are not evident in the budget.

The work was scheduled to begin  this month (April). It is described by the Community College “as a 160’ x 230’ multi-use field. This project will consist of an irrigated grass field, fence, and netting along with a gravel path around the exterior. The field will be located to the north of Kachina, where the Supai residence hall once was located. The Grounds Team will be performing much of the work.”

MULTI USE SOCCER FIELD