2008 Woodie Awards
Papadopoulos steps down, Suffolk searches for new soccer coach
Phil Camara
Issue date: 6/5/08 Section: News
Nick Papadopoulos has roamed the sidelines as the Suffolk University Men's Head Soccer Coach for the past seven seasons, posting 61 victories over that span. However, when the 2008 season begins in September, the soccer team will see a new face in the head coaching ranks and Papadopoulos donning a new title within the program.
Papadopoulos announced his resignation as head coach last week due to personal reasons, thus beginning an immediate search for a new head soccer coach. The university announced that he has taken over the position of Advisor and Recruiting Coordinator for the Men's Soccer program.
"Nick's role has changed to Advisor and Recruiting Coordinator due to his responsibilities with his business, the Derne St. Deli, and other obligations that he has in the Greek community," said Suffolk University Athletic Director James Nelson. "We talked about how he could remain involved in the soccer program and also balance his other obligations and we determined that this was the best way."
Nelson declined to release the names of the coaching candidates, but did say that the search has been narrowed to two people.
Papadopoulos could not be any happier with the change himself.
"There is absolutely a lot of room for doing new things with the school and the program," said the former head coach. "I had been doing this for a while and it was time to move on. We are going to try to take this program to a new level."
Papadopoulos led Suffolk to back-to-back appearances in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference semi-finals over the last two seasons and also led the team to its first-ever ECAC Division III tournament appearance in 2006. He managed to win a combined 19 games in 2007 and 2006.
Team Captain Clayton Plumer feels that Suffolk soccer is heading in a positive direction.
"It was a very positive thing for him to move forward," said the senior. "In the long run it's going to help him and the program. I think that he was becoming more and more disinterested lately as the head coach and it was time for a change. It was a mutual thing for the program.
"I think the new change is really going to light a fire under the kids on the team. I'm very excited about the change and even though it's my senior year, I'm looking forward to the season."
Papadopoulos announced his resignation as head coach last week due to personal reasons, thus beginning an immediate search for a new head soccer coach. The university announced that he has taken over the position of Advisor and Recruiting Coordinator for the Men's Soccer program.
"Nick's role has changed to Advisor and Recruiting Coordinator due to his responsibilities with his business, the Derne St. Deli, and other obligations that he has in the Greek community," said Suffolk University Athletic Director James Nelson. "We talked about how he could remain involved in the soccer program and also balance his other obligations and we determined that this was the best way."
Nelson declined to release the names of the coaching candidates, but did say that the search has been narrowed to two people.
Papadopoulos could not be any happier with the change himself.
"There is absolutely a lot of room for doing new things with the school and the program," said the former head coach. "I had been doing this for a while and it was time to move on. We are going to try to take this program to a new level."
Papadopoulos led Suffolk to back-to-back appearances in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference semi-finals over the last two seasons and also led the team to its first-ever ECAC Division III tournament appearance in 2006. He managed to win a combined 19 games in 2007 and 2006.
Team Captain Clayton Plumer feels that Suffolk soccer is heading in a positive direction.
"It was a very positive thing for him to move forward," said the senior. "In the long run it's going to help him and the program. I think that he was becoming more and more disinterested lately as the head coach and it was time for a change. It was a mutual thing for the program.
"I think the new change is really going to light a fire under the kids on the team. I'm very excited about the change and even though it's my senior year, I'm looking forward to the season."
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