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White starting fresh with CMC soccer

G. Sean Kelly

After taking a season hiatus from the Colorado Mountain College soccer program, Steve White is back at the helm and looking for a “new start.”

White, who recently retired as the head coach of the Glenwood Springs High School girls soccer team, is returning to head the CMC Eagles soccer program after resigning from the position last August.

“I feel like there is a great value in the program, and I want to see the potential of the program reached,” White said. “It’s good for the students and a great activity. It’s also a great draw for the college and the community.”



While he is returning to essentially the same position he previously held at the college, a reorganization in the program should allow White more latitude in determining the direction of soccer at CMC.

“I was able to re-negotiate how the program would be managed,” White said. “I have more responsibility in the direction on the program. More fund-raising and more student recruitment – those are the two responsibilities that increased over what it was before.”



The first step of White’s more aggressive approach to the development of the program for CMC to become a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association.

“One of the goals is to move to an NJCAA-sanctioned program in a short period of time,” White said.

“As a sanctioned (NJCAA) program – if we were playing at the level we were at two years ago – we would be (regulars) in the postseason,” he added. “I see the potential to develop into a top-10 program.”

But the Eagles took a hit during White’s absence and will have to rebuild in order to regain the form of two years ago.

“The program faltered a little last fall after I resigned,” White said.

“We’re going to return some players, but we’re not going to return as many as last fall,” he added.

Heather Walker – who also coaches the Basalt High School girls’ team – stepped in to keep the women’s team afloat last season, but the men’s team was basically student-run and failed to meet all its game commitments.

In the upcoming season, the Eagles should have more stability on both the men’s and women’s sides. The teams will play a Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Soccer League schedule, along with a number of games against community college teams.

White will serve as the head coach for both teams. Walker will be the women’s assistant coach and Brian Stolzfus, White’s assistant at Glenwood Springs High School, will serve as the men’s assistant.

The coaching staff certainly has the facilities to draw some talent to the program. The multi-field Gates Soccer Complex on the CMC-Spring Valley Campus is one of the top soccer facilities on the Western Slope, if not in Colorado.

And White is actively recruiting talent, sending out letters and selecting players through coaches’ references, video review or walk-on tryouts. The ultimate goal is to turn CMC into a recruiting ground for four-year colleges.

White will showcase the Gates Fields this summer with the Colorado Mountain Cup adult soccer tournament in mid-July and is also offering walk-on tryouts for the fall rosters on the following dates: June 20-21; July 24-25; Aug. 21-23.

For more information on the tryouts, call 947-8253.


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