Players feel cheated after program is cut
By Brandon Ortiz and Braden Howell
Skiff Staff

Former men’s soccer players said Monday they felt cheated by the elimination of the team’s varsity status, asserting that the university never sought to adequately fund or improve the program.

One player, who spoke on condition of confidentiality, said coaches had warned players during the season that they had to start winning or the program would be cut. Coaches often joked they would not have a job at the end of the season, the player said.

“They would say it after the game,” he said. “They would say ‘We need to start looking for jobs.’ They would say this during the season. I think they knew this was going to happen.”

Associate head coach Blake Amos, who oversaw the men’s team, denied the accusations, saying the decision was just as much a surprise to the coaches as it was the players.

“I have no idea why someone would say that,” Amos said. “It seems kind of comical.”
University officials announced Friday that the program will be reduced to club status next fall because players were not having a positive experience and the team was not competitive. Athletic Director Eric Hyman also cited economic woes, saying the program would need a $400,000 annual budget to be competitive.

The program operated on about half that, with three coaches who also split time with the women’s program. They also tried to recruit on 2 1/2 scholarships, which were introduced for the first time two years ago. Hyman said the program’s elimination is not related to Title IX, the federal law that bans discrimination based on gender.

Players said the timing of the announcement, two days after National Signing Day, limits players ability to transfer.

University officials said it will work with players who want to transfer.

Several players said the program was poorly coached and in disarray, with demoralized athletes transferring to other universities or quitting altogether.

“There had been years when we had a lot of talent,” said Adam Williams, a defender who played on the team four years. “But as you press further into the season, you just lose hope.”

Coaches say the players were upset from so many years of losing. The program, which was 3-14-1 last season, had only six winning seasons since 1980.

“We treat the players with as much respect as any coach,” Amos said. “The program is a bit strange because it lacks scholarships and we have to play against teams that are a lot better. I can see how that would wear on somebody.”

Players said seniors leaving the program had complained to athletics directors about coaching inadequacies for years. But the grievances fell on deaf ears, Williams said.

“The seniors were unhappy, and they would point fingers at the coaches,” he said. “But why wasn’t there a change?”

Hyman declined to comment on specific accusations made by players.

Coaches were often ill-prepared and did not make the team practice key fundamentals such as penalty kicks, said Michael Lahoud, a senior goalkeeper.

“It’s not fair that we’re losing our program but the coaches get to keep their jobs and actually get better jobs,” he said. “Now they only have to focus on one team.”

But Amos said coaches were overworked and sacrificed time with their families to help players succeed.

“Most teams have four coaches per team,” he said. “We were five short. I didn’t think it would ever be easy with two coaches and a GA.”

Last fall was the Frogs sixth losing season in seven years. Head coach David Rubinson has coached the team for the last 22 years, compiling an official record of 141-257-23.
In recent years, much of the coaching responsibility for the men’s team was delegated to Amos.

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