Former Coker Soccer Player Passes Away

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
7/8/2009

Coker College lost a former Cobra over the weekend. Stephen Jones, class of 1987, passed away on Saturday, June 29, at the age of 44 after a bout with cancer.

"Stephen was a great person, teammate and friend," said Tim Griggs Coker's Director of Athletics and former Coker soccer coach. "He was always up-beat, always having a good time and he was a heck of a goalkeeper."

One of the best goalkeepers in Coker history, Jones played for the Cobras for four years under Griggs. The Opelika, Ala. native earned his Master's degree in Physical Education from The Citadel, where he also served as a graduate assistant coach for two years and then interim head coach before he made a name for himself as the Head Coach at Carson-Newman College in Jefferson, Tenn.

Jones compiled a 59-60-10 record while coaching the Eagles from 1990-97. He was named South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year in just his second season in 1991 after leading the Eagles to at 10-7-1 mark, which was the program's first-ever winning season.

"Stephen is a tremendous person and a great coach that will be greatly missed," said Griggs. "The thoughts and prayers of everyone from the Coker community go out to the Jones family."

In lieu of flowers, a gift may be given to Jones' medical fund. Make checks payable to Heritage Fellowship with "Jones Medical Fund" listed on the memo line and mail to Heritage Fellowship at 316 W. Old A.J. Hwy, Jefferson City, TN 37760.

Coker Women's Soccer Adds Four for 2009

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
7/1/2009

Hartsville, S.C. - Coker College Head Women's Soccer Coach announced the signing of four players to National Letters of Intent to play soccer for the Lady Cobras in the fall of 2009 today. Morgan Hartline, Sarah Kinsey, Jill Giguere and Sarah Rountree will all wear Coker blue and gold starting in August, with the hope of taking the Lady Cobras back to the top of the Conference Carolinas standings.

Hartline is a native of Columbia, S.C., where she was a standout performer at Dutch Fork High School. A forward, Hartline joins fellow Lady Cobras Bridget Clark and Amanda McPhail who also attended Dutch Fork High School. According to Coach Grass, "Morgan distributes the ball very well, but looks to put the ball in the back of the net."

Kinsey joins the Lady Cobras from Windermere, Florida, where she attended West Orange High School. A three-time letter winner, Kinsey was a Second Team Metro Conference Forward in 2009 and was named the 2009 Offensive Player of the Year. Off the field she graduated with honors, while taking accelerated college courses and was a four-year member of the A/B Honor Roll. When asked about Kinsey joining the Lady Cobras Coach Grass said, "She gets herself in the right place to capitalize on goals, but also finding the holes for others to score."

Giguere comes to Coker from Myrtle Beach, S.C., where she was a four-time MVP for Socastee High School. A forward/midfielder, Giguere was a two-time Toast to the Coast selection, three-time All-Region selection, was a All-State nominee and was the team high scorer for five years. "Jill will be competitive at both the midfield and forward positions," said Coach Grass. "She will keep others on their toes with her subtle moves and seamless passes."

Rountree is another native of Florida, joining the Lady Cobras from Plantation, Florida, where she was a three sport standout at Archbishop McCarthy High School. The two-time Archbishop Female Athlete of the Year, was also named All-County in soccer, softball and golf, while receiving Academic Second Honors for four years and she was a member of the National Honor Society. "Rountree has a nose for tracking down attacking players and denying them goals," said Coach Grass about the defender. In addition to playing soccer for the Lady Cobras, Rountree will also take the field as a Coker Softball player in the spring, making her one of just a handful of two sport athletes at Coker.

With the addition of these four young ladies and the return of 13 players from last season, Coach Grass and the Lady Cobras will be looking to improve last season's record. The Coker women open their 2009 season on August 27, when they host Newberry College at 5:30 p.m. on the Coker Soccer Field.

Coker Releases 2009 Women's Soccer Schedule

The Coker College Athletic Department released the 2009 schedule for the women's soccer team this week.

The Lady Cobras are looking to have a good year, with the return of head coach Bethany Grass. In her second campaign as the leader of the Coker women, Coach Grass is looking to improve on last year's three win season.

Coach Grass and the Lady Cobras have a tough schedule ahead of them. Their schedule features 11 Conference Carolinas matches, six non-conference matches; including playing Southern Wesleyan in a October 3 Homecoming match. The women's schedule also features nine home matches at the Coker Soccer Field.

The women open their 2009 season on August 27, when they will host Newberry in a non-conference match. The Lady Cobras then travel to Chowan University for a game on August 30, before returning home for a three game set versus Wingate (Sept. 3), USC-Aiken (Sept. 15) and finally their Conference Carolinas opener on September 17 against Mount Olive.

Coach Grass and the Lady Cobras then play four conference matches (Erskine, Converse, Lees-McRae and Queens); three on the road, before they take on Southern Wesleyan in their 2009 Homecoming match on October 3.

The Lady Cobras play six of their final seven matches against conference opponents, with their final home match on Saturday, October 24 versus Anderson University and their final non-conference match on October 27 at Catawba. The Coker women's final regular season game of the season is on October 31 against St. Andrews Presbyterian College.

Coker Releases 2009 Men's Soccer Schedule

The Coker College Athletic Department released the 2009 schedule for the men's soccer team this week.

The men have an exciting season ahead of them, with first year head coach Paul Leese taking the helm of the Cobra men. Leese joins the Cobras after three seasons at Coastal Carolina University as the Chanticleers assistant coach.

Coach Leese and the Cobra men have a schedule that features nine Conference Carolinas matches, seven non-conference matches; including playing regional powers UNC-Pembroke and Francis Marion University, along with playing Southern Wesleyan in a October 3 Homecoming match. The Coker schedule also features seven home matches at the Coker Soccer Field.

The men open their 2009 season on August 27, when they will host UNC-Pembroke. Last season the Cobras defeated the Braves 2-1 for the first time in school history. The Cobras then take to the road for a four game stint, before returning home on September 12 to face Mount Olive College in their Conference Carolinas opener.

After traveling to Erskine College on September 19, the Cobras will return to Hartsville to face cross-town rival Francis Marion University on September 22. Coker then plays Lees-McRae College (Sept. 26) and Queens University (Sept. 30) in a pair of conference matches and they cap off the week with their 2009 Homecoming match versus Southern Wesleyan on October 3.

The Cobras final six matches are all versus conference opponents, with their final home match on Saturday, October 24 versus Anderson University and their final regular season match of the year on October 31 against St. Andrews Presbyterian College.

Four FMU soccer players busy with summer work

Three Francis Marion University men’s soccer players – senior defender Willie Hunt, junior midfielder Kyle Clinton, and sophomore forward Juan Rivas – are spending their summer playing for the Mississippi Brilla FC squad, while sophomore defender Julian Ramjohn is playing for the Toronto Lynx.

Mississippi Brilla FC is the minor league soccer franchise of Brilla Soccer Ministries, Inc. The team competes in the Southeast Division of the Southern Conference of the Premier Development League, a division of the United Soccer Leagues. The Toronto squad (0-2-0) plays in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference.

The Mississippi team, which currently owns a 4-1-1 record, plays its home matches at Robert P. Longabaugh Soccer Stadium on the campus of Mississippi College in Clinton, Miss. The team has a 16-match regular-season schedule which runs from May through July. The team recently qualified for the upcoming Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Hunt has played every minute of the team’s six matches, while Clinton has appeared in two contests. Rivas is rehabbing from an injury and has yet to appear in a match.

Hunt, a native of Greer, S.C. was the only senior on FMU head coach Kevin Varnado’s 2008 squad. He started all 22 matches for the Patriots, scored four goals, including the winning overtime tally in the PBC Tournament championship match, and recorded two assists. As importantly, he anchored a Francis Marion defense that posted eight shutouts and a 1.35 goals against average.
Clinton, a native of Safety Harbor, Fla., led Francis Marion last fall with 10 goals and 25 points. He was tied for third on the team with five assists.

Rivas tallied nine goals and five assists for 23 points. Among the Clearwater, Fla., native’s nine goals were three match-winners.

Ramjohn, a native of Brampton, Ontario, Canada, started 18 matches in the defensive back last fall and recorded one goal and one assist.

The four helped lead Francis Marion to a 14-5-3 record, both the Peach Belt Conference regular-season and tournament titles, and an invitation to the NCAA Tournament, where the Patriots advanced to the second round.

FMU goalkeeper busy in the nation’s capitol

FLORENCE, S.C. – Emily Brandenburg, a junior goalkeeper on the Francis Marion University women’s soccer team, has been busy in Washington, D.C., this spring.

She is currently interning in the United States Senate. The resident of West Columbia was also named the South Carolina Cherry Blossom Princess and represented the state in the 97th-annual national Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington three weeks ago.

The weeklong festival celebrates the 1912 gift to the city of Washington of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo, and serves as an enduring symbol of friendship between the United States and Japan. Since 1948, state societies have selected accomplished young women to share their state’s rich culture, traditions, and history with national and international visitors and dignitaries at the annual festival and abroad. Brandenburg participated in educational, leadership, and cultural activities that nurture international relationships and cultural exchanges.

Brandenburg is majoring in political science and minoring in Spanish with hopes of attending law school. This past season, she appeared in 16 matches, with 13 starts, and compiled a 2.16 goal against average, while posting three shutouts and a 5.1 saves per match average that ranked 89th among all NCAA Division I goalkeepers.

In addition to playing soccer, Brandenburg is a member of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority, has served as head delegate for National Model United Nations China, and is a member of the Student Leadership Advisory Board. She has been involved with FMU’s Campus Outreach, the Honors Student Association, been a University Marshall, and was named Miss Congeniality at the 2007 Miss FMU Pageant. She has been named to both the Peach Belt Conference Presidential and FMU Swamp Fox Athletic-Academic honor rolls.

She is a graduate of Lakeside High School in Augusta, Ga., where she was a first-team All-Area selection on the soccer field.

Coker Hires Leese to Leads Men's Soccer

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
4/20/2009

Hartsville, S.C. - Coker College is pleased to announce the hiring of Paul Leese as the new Head Men's Soccer Coach. Leese assumes the coaching helm for the Cobra men on May 13.

Leese, a native of Liverpool, England, comes to Coker after serving as the Assistant Men's Soccer Coach at Coastal Carolina University for the last three seasons. While at Coastal, Leese was in charge of student-athlete recruitment, including recruiting players from England, Africa, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and Spain, as well as serving as the director of the Chanticleers summer soccer camp program for more than 400 youth soccer players.

"I am very pleased to join the Coker College athletic family and serve as head coach of the men's soccer team," said Leese. "I felt that Coker was a special place the moment I set foot on campus. I found the coaches, faculty and staff to be incredibly supportive and keen to create an environment where athletes can succeed both in the classroom and on the field."

Prior to Leese's time at Coastal he served as an assistant coach at Furman University and Elon University. He earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Furman in 2001, while receiving a Masters in Business Administration from Elon in 2003. As a member of the Furman Paladin soccer team, Leese was a part of the best finish in school history, 21-2-1 and he helped lead the Paladins to a NCAA Quarterfinal appearance. After graduation Leese played professional soccer in the United Soccer League (USL), playing for the Greenville Lions and the Greensboro Dynamo.

"Coach Leese is an outstanding soccer coach," said Coker College Director of Athletics Tim Griggs. "His ability to organize and recruit will greatly enhance the Coker College men's soccer program. I am extremely happy to have Coach Leese join the Coker Athletics staff."

Leese inherits a team that finished the 2008 season with a record of 7-12-2 overall and 3-6-1 in Conference Carolinas play, placing ninth in the conference standings. With only three seniors graduating he has a solid nucleus of players returning for the 2009-2010 season.

"I want to thank Coker College for providing me with this opportunity. I was impressed with its vision for the future of the men's soccer team and I share Coker Athletics commitment to developing our student-athletes and preparing them for life after graduation."

Coker Hires Leese to Leads Men's Soccer

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College
4/20/2009

Hartsville, S.C. - Coker College is pleased to announce the hiring of Paul Leese as the new Head Men's Soccer Coach. Leese assumes the coaching helm for the Cobra men on May 13.

Leese, a native of Liverpool, England, comes to Coker after serving as the Assistant Men's Soccer Coach at Coastal Carolina University for the last three seasons. While at Coastal, Leese was in charge of student-athlete recruitment, including recruiting players from England, Africa, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and Spain, as well as serving as the director of the Chanticleers summer soccer camp program for more than 400 youth soccer players.

"I am very pleased to join the Coker College athletic family and serve as head coach of the men's soccer team," said Leese. "I felt that Coker was a special place the moment I set foot on campus. I found the coaches, faculty and staff to be incredibly supportive and keen to create an environment where athletes can succeed both in the classroom and on the field."

Prior to Leese's time at Coastal he served as an assistant coach at Furman University and Elon University. He earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Furman in 2001, while receiving a Masters in Business Administration from Elon in 2003. As a member of the Furman Paladin soccer team, Leese was a part of the best finish in school history, 21-2-1 and he helped lead the Paladins to a NCAA Quarterfinal appearance. After graduation Leese played professional soccer in the United Soccer League (USL), playing for the Greenville Lions and the Greensboro Dynamo.

"Coach Leese is an outstanding soccer coach," said Coker College Director of Athletics Tim Griggs. "His ability to organize and recruit will greatly enhance the Coker College men's soccer program. I am extremely happy to have Coach Leese join the Coker Athletics staff."

Leese inherits a team that finished the 2008 season with a record of 7-12-2 overall and 3-6-1 in Conference Carolinas play, placing ninth in the conference standings. With only three seniors graduating he has a solid nucleus of players returning for the 2009-2010 season.

"I want to thank Coker College for providing me with this opportunity. I was impressed with its vision for the future of the men's soccer team and I share Coker Athletics commitment to developing our student-athletes and preparing them for life after graduation."

FMU names Person new women’s soccer coach

FLORENCE, S.C. – Athletic Department officials at Francis Marion University have announced the appointment of Joel Person as the new head coach for the women’s soccer program. Person served as the men’s assistant coach at FMU during the 2008 fall season.

Person succeeds Marty Beall, who left the program to take the head coaching job with High Point University.

FMU director of athletics Murray Hartzler said Person was selected from a pool of over 100 applicants that came from across the country. “We are very pleased that Joel has accepted our offer to head the women’s program. It was a pleasant surprise to find the top candidate already on our campus.”

“Joel has displayed his coaching expertise while working with the men’s team, and has developed a rapport with the members of the women’s squad while training them this spring. I look forward to him building and improving upon the firm foundation already laid for our program.”

Person becomes the third head coach in the program’s 14-year history, following Beall and Hartzler. The Patriot women own an all-time record of 165-79-11 mark, including 12 seasons of double-figure wins and an imposing 93-18-6 home record.

The Patriots lose only two seniors off last fall’s 6-12-1 squad, the team’s second year as a full-fledged NCAA Division I member. Last year’s schedule included five opponents that made the NCAA Tournament the year before.

“I am extremely excited about the challenge that is now in front of me,” Person said. “The FMU program has developed a good tradition both on and off the field, and I am happy to now be a part of that. To have already met and trained with the players is a huge advantage for the fall season – a head start if you may. Now I must start with the recruiting process and move forward on that front.”

With Person serving as assistant coach last fall, the FMU men recorded a 14-5-3 record, won both the Peach Belt Conference regular-season and tournament titles, and earned an invitation to the NCAA Tournament, where the Patriots advanced to the second round.

Prior to joining the FMU staff in 2008, Person served one season as an assistant women’s coach at the University of Mobile. He also worked for two years as a state coach with the Alabama Youth Soccer Association Olympic Development Program.

He owns the United States Soccer Federation National B License and the USSF National Youth License.

Person was director of coaching with the Mobile Soccer Club in 2006-07, was the head boys’ varsity coach at the UMS-Wright Preparatory School in Mobile for three seasons with a 41-16-4 record and three playoff appearances, and assisted with the University of Mobile men’s program from 2002 to 2006. That final stint included the Rams’ 2002 NAIA national championship season.

A native of Fairbanks, Alaska, he earned the B.A. degree in history and religion (magna cum laude) from Mobile in 2002. He played four seasons for the Rams, while the program made three NAIA Final Four appearances during his career.

He also played several seasons in the USL Premier Development League.

Off the field, the Francis Marion women’s program has earned a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Team Academic Award for the five of the past six seasons 2008-09, 2006-07, 2005-06, 2004-05, and 2003-04 school years.

Lane Resigns as Coker Men's Soccer Coach

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College

Hartsville, S.C. - Robert Lane, Head men's soccer coach at Coker College, has resigned to pursue a job in Charlotte, N.C. in the private sector. Lane has been the leader of the Cobra men for the last three seasons, joining the Coker coaching staff in the summer of 2006.

"I am very grateful for the opportunity that Tim Griggs and Coker College have given me over the past three years to serve as Head Men's Soccer Coach," said Lane. "We have made great strides with this program to become a competitive team within the conference. I have no doubt that the players in place will continue the growth of the Coker College Men's Soccer program."

During his tenure at Coker, Coach Lane led the Cobras to a record of 16-38-2, while leading Coker to a 7-12-2 record in the fall of 2008, a best finish by a Cobra men's team in the last decade. Coach Lane and his Cobras had some very memorable games during his time, including a 2-1 win over Division I High Point University, the men's first conference tournament appearance in more than five years in 2008 and a 1-0 loss to the U17 United States National Team in a friendly match.

"Coach Lane has been a great asset to the Coker Athletics Department," said Coker Director of Athletics, Tim Griggs. "He recruited a number of talented student-athletes to improve the overall standing of the team within our conference. In addition, Coach Lane served on the Campus Coalition Committee, attended the Conference Student-Athlete Advisory Retreat and participated in the Athletic Prevention Programming and Leadership Education (APPLE) conference."

"Neeley and I have been surrounded by wonderful people in the Hartsville area," said Lane. "We look forward to getting married in March and starting new careers in the Charlotte area."

Coker will begin an immediate nationwide search for a new coach, with the hope of having a new coach in place within the next month.

Lane Speaks at North Carolina All-State Awards

by Christian Stryker, SID Coker College

Hartsville, S.C. - Coker College Head Men's Soccer Coach, Robert Lane, was the key note speaker at the North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association Men's All-State Awards Program on Sunday, January 25 in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Coach Lane, a native of Wilson, N.C., was given the distinct honor of speaking to more than 120 of the best men's soccer players from around North Carolina. In addition to speaking to the crowd, Coach Lane presented the awards for Regional Coaches of the Year, State Coaches of the Year, All-State Teams, NSCAA All-South Region Players and Player of the Year.

"It was a great honor to be a part of this awards ceremony," said Lane. "I can remember being in the very same seats as these players when I was in high school, so it was very neat to be able to honor them now."

Lane is a 2000 graduate of Hunt High School, where he was a All-State selection in 1999, the 3A Big East Player of the Year in 1998, as well as being a member of the East/West All-Star Team in 2000. Robert also played his college soccer in North Carolina, playing three seasons at Barton College and a season at East Carolina University.

FMU searching for new women’s soccer coach

FLORENCE, SC – Francis Marion University athletic officials announced on Monday (Jan. 19) that women’s soccer head coach Marty Beall has resigned his position to take the head coaching job with High Point University.

FMU director of athletics Murray Hartzler said a national search for Beall’s successor will begin immediately.

Beall recently completed his sixth year at the helm of the Patriot women’s program and owns a 56-44-7 coaching mark. He guided the program in its recent move from NCAA Division II to Division I membership.

“I want to thank Coach Beall for his hard work and dedication to the Francis Marion University women’s soccer program over the past six seasons,” Hartzler said.

In the program’s first year (2007) as a full-fledged Division I independent, the Patriots were 10-7-1, while this past fall FMU was 6-12-1 against a schedule that included five opponents that made the NCAA Tournament the year before.

Four times in his six years, Francis Marion posted double-digit wins. His 2007 squad finished as the 15th highest scoring team in Division I, and three players earned Scholar All-Region honors. His 2006 team was 11-5-3 and recorded the fourth most improved record in NCAA Division I according to Somis Sports. Under his guidance, the program earned a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Team Academic Award for the 2006-07, 2005-06, 2004-05, and 2003-04 school years.

Beall guided the 2004 Patriots to the Peach Belt Conference regular-season championship and he was named the PBC Coach of the Year.

Beall served as an assistant coach at FMU for four years prior to taking over the head coaching reigns in 2003. He attended both the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore and Montgomery (Junior) College before earning his undergraduate degree from Francis Marion.
He has also been involved with the South Carolina Olympic Development Program (ODP) and Florence Youth Soccer Association.

In 14 all-time seasons, the Patriot women own an all-time record of 165-79-11 mark, including 12 seasons of double-figure wins and an imposing 93-18-6 home record.