by Ben Hanson
Horizon Reporter
With the change in season comes a change in the soccer teams’ leadership at Whatcom Community College. Both men’s and women’s team coaches have been replaced. Joel Grossman will be stepping in for the men’s team while Claire Morgan will be heading the women’s team. Here is the latest scoop on the new coaches’ techniques and plans for the coming season.
Experience, both on the field and on the sidelines, runs deep between the two new coaches. Morgan has been a coach for the Whatcom Soccer Academy as well as guest coach for WSA Camps and WWU Soccer Camps. She has also coached the Whatcom Football Club Rangers for five years, which she grew up playing for. Morgan also played on her high school varsity team for four years.
Grossman, the men’s coach has had his fair share of time on the field. He has coached for Whatcom Soccer Academy, Puget Sound Soccer Academy, Northwest United, and currently runs and owns SoccerFit Elite, a business specializing in soccer training.” He played at both Skagit Valley Community College and at Western Washington University.
“This team will play a free flowing sort of style, maintaining possession of the ball creating for exciting offensive opportunities. Grossman said he plans to “instill a superior level of collective team fitness and work ethic” to outwork and wear down our opponents. He said with the right mind-set this team can win the league and even the championship.
Morgan said soccer has much more to offer than just the sport itself. “You can make friends, learn how to be part of a team, and work together to achieve a common goal,” she said.
“If they want to try and play at the next level, I’m going to do everything in my power to try and help them get there,” Morgan said.
The men and women’s teams will start practicing on August 15 and their first games will be at the end of August, lasting through November. “I would love to have more of the student body out to our games to support us this season,” Morgan said. I think it’s going to be a great season for both the women’s, and the men’s programs, and we are grateful for all the support we’ve already received.”
These two new coaches are definitely familiar with cleats and shin-guards, while hopefully unfamiliar with red cards. Kris Baier, athletics director, is positive about the teams’ potential. “It’s a really exciting time… having two qualified individuals” leading our teams.
