SCHWEIZER TO STEP DOWN AS WOLFPACK WOMENS SOCCER HEAD COACH.
For immediate release: 6 am January 12, 2009
Kamloops, BC: It’s the end of an era at Thompson Rivers University. Eric Schweizer has announced today that he is stepping aside as head coach of the Thompson Rivers University WolfPack Women’s Soccer team.
“I have been playing around with retiring for the past 2 years.” He stated. “Things such as: having a coach take the team into CIS; the program requiring more and more a full year commitment, my age and energy are some of the factors which I considered in my decision. I feel that the coach has to put 100% of his energy into the program. I think I have done that but am not sure that I could keep doing that as the demands keep increasing.”
Schweizer’s final year at the helm of the WolfPack was one of success. He directed them to the BC College Athletic Association regular season crown with a record of 10 wins, 1 loss and 3 ties. They lost in the league final and then dropped the gold medal match at the Canadian College Athletic Association Championship to Langara College late in regulation time.
It was the third silver medal that the WolfPack had won under Schweizer’s direction: they had captured national medals in 2003 and 2006.
Schweizer was also named the BC College Athletic Association Women’s Coach of the Year in 2008. It was the first time he had won the honor.
He admits he made his final decision while travelling with his wife Tish through Ecuador and Peru before Christmas.
“I have especially enjoyed my time spent with the team -that is from mid August to November. I have had a great coaching staff work with me in Glen Archer and Kelly Shantz. I have had good support from the college and now the university and especially Ken (TRU Athletic Director Olynyk) and his staff. I have enjoyed watching some incredible athletes mature and become very good soccer players.”
Schweizer had been the head coach at Thompson Rivers University since 2003. He had been with the program since 1995, first as an assistant to the late Mike Bartram and then Kevin Fertile. Eric coached for many years in the Kamloops Youth Soccer Association and on Provincial Allstar teams (Boys “B” Cup title in 1991 and 1992, Girls “A” cup titles in 1994 and 1995 and went to the National championships.)
He sums up his fondest memories like this:“ being involved in coaching my daughter Dayna at the college level. Being part of the 1999 National championship gold medal team. Winning the 2002 provincial championship in Kelowna with Kevin Fertile. Working with quality people. And seeing so many of the girls that we have mentored and coached continue their career in soccer at different levels including our women's league .It shows that they enjoy the game and have fun playing it.”
“It’s a big loss to our program,” says WolfPack Athletic Director Ken Olynyk “But its understandable he wants to spend more time with his family and do more travelling. ”
The search for Schweizer’s successor begins immediately.
“It’ll be difficult to find a replacement,” says Olynyk . “Eric has brought so much dedication and class to our coaching staff and our women’s soccer program as a whole. He’ll surely be missed. Under Eric and his coaching staff, the entire student experience as a women’s soccer player has never been greater. We hope that’ll continue under the new head coach”
Schweizer leaves TRU with a head coaching record of 48 wins, 17 losses and 14 draws.
He believes he leaves the program in good shape: “Yes - I feel that there is a solid core of young players who will be heard from again this fall. The level of soccer in the women's game keeps improving year after year and the product that comes out of the Kamloops Youth Soccer Association and high schools is very good. The success of our program over the past many years attracts good players from all over the province and country. ‘