The 2008 graduating class was a banner year for Ohio Elite Soccer Academy girls players moving on to play at the college level. In all, 19 players in the 2008 graduating class have committed to play college soccer. Of those, 14 will be attending NCAA Division I schools. Even more impressive, according to the final 2007 NSCAA National Ranking, Ohio Elite players have either committed to or are currently playing at 13 of the top 30 NCAA Division I schools in the country. Included on that list of schools are: Florida State, Notre Dame, North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Virginia, Tennessee, Duke, Florida, Purdue, Wake Forest, Santa Clara, Washington State, Memphis and Georgia.
From a coaching perspective my ultimate goal is to help players get to the level they desire that is realistically within their ability. To start in the process you have to develop each players technical base and begin to evaluate their physical gifts and mind for the game. Only then can we see where each player will fit at the next level. It takes time. It may be the state team or the national team. It may be at a Division I or Division III. No one achievement is greater than the other. I applaud our players going to Ohio Dominican University as loudly as those going to UNC. Good for you. You have aspired to reach a higher level and made an important step in reaching that level. I will always judge the player and our program with one question: Did we get that player to reach their potential provided they have the desire to do so? My greatest joy will always come in the many successes of our players.
Our track record in this area gives me a great sense of pride in the development of our girls program over the last six years. Most importantly it says a great deal about the talent of the players involved at Ohio Elite. Without that talent the many milestones would not be possible.
For those who have and will move on Tim and I are very proud of you. Here's to future Ohio Elite players reaching their goals.
