Photo By Christian Vetrone, Photography Editor
By Natalie Dodson
Susquehanna Men’s soccer coach, Jim Findlay, celebrates his 200th win after completing his 26th season.
The River Hawks ended their season 3-10-3 with a total of 19 goals and 63 saves. Findlay expressed how his goal as a coach is not only to improve his players but also to prepare them for the real world.
“We want to develop players not just on the field but off the field as well…preparing them for the real world and the careers that they are going to move on to”.
With years of experience on and off the field, Findlay describes his coaching style as interactive because of having both the perspective of the player and the coach. “…even though I’ve been here for a while I still feel like I like to get out there and demonstrate…having played the game gives you a different understanding”. He admits that he is still able to be in touch with the modern-day player, because he listens to what his players have to say.
With a total of 19 goals this season, the River Hawks plan on further strengthening their offensive skills in the off-season. One of Findlay’s goals for this past season was to score more goals than last, and he commends the team for doing so. Findlay has said that he enjoys watching his players commit themselves to the sport the way he did.
“Being able to get the most out of kids that are 17 to 22 years old that have faced many challenges of being a student athlete…asking them to commit as much time to play soccer and the fact that they do that just for their love of the game…that inspires me to see how structured they are…”.
Findlay jokes that the reason he decided to be a coach was because they would not let him play anymore. He was an assistant coach at Lycoming College for two years before coming to Susquehanna, and he explains that it was there that he began to really appreciate the coaching aspect of soccer.
Findlay goes on to say that he is inspired every day by the effort the players continue to put in on and off the field. His goal for next season is to get back to the Landmark Conference, and he has confidence that they will be able to do so.
