It's an interesting job market evaluation of Ape's work - she left UVA (which went on to win an ACC title and become a national contender without her) and ends up at UCI - at the bottom of the Big West. How many people think she'll be at Irvine next June?
It looks like she knows how to build a team, and has done so in a few places, not just UVa. Who knows, now that UNC isn't getting all the blue-chippers anymore and the West Coast is teeming with talent from the US, Canada, and Mexico, I can see with her experience and fame a lot of great recruits coming in and transforming that team. She could be there a long while; her coaching style didn't fit the national team quite well, but she can clearly coach the college folks. If anything, she could move from Irvine to a bigger program in a few years and get back up the coaching ladder, like replacing Ellis at UCLA someday or another coach (I can see a coach with Ellis' record becoming a national team coach or assistant someday).
This may be the least informed post this month on BS. I will agree with you on one thing, though. Ellis' record in big games definitely could get SocFed's attention for the WNT. she's already been WNT assistant and U-19 coach (along with her dad under Ape). And that Ape, she's a real program builder . . . [head shake] or something . . .
This job must certainly reflect her deserved lack of marketability, no disrespect to the school. Either that, or Ape so badly needs a success and ego boost that she's taken a job where there's no place to go but up.
Another benefit- close proximity the Home Depot Center and all the National Teams...keeping her close by and on their radar.
I'm sure Greg Ryan et al will want her input . . . hey mods - how 'bout joining the two threads on this?
ITA My favorite quote: "I knew I would very likely go back to the college game in the right situation" The right situation? anyone who called with an offer? Like she turned down some jr. colleges or what? "and I think we have an opportunity to do special things at UC-Irvine," In other words, since the school sucked so badly, anything she does will be viewed as a success.
I thought this one was better: "I've never traded on my name," Heinrichs said. "I'm an under-the-radar type of gal. I don't blow people away with my charisma."
Actually, I wish her well. Hey, for all we know, maybe it's a match made in heaven. Ape gets to coach and live at home. UCI got on the sports pages for something positive. My feeling, is there's no reason the Anteaters can't compete with Fullerton and Northridge (to say the least). I mean, they could probably get some kids to live there from outside SoCal, ya' know? It's good for college soccer to have her back in the game, and regardless of what I thought of her tenure with the national team she'll be bringing a really interesting set of experiences to competing at the college level. Also, UCI has a team that's not that far away in terms of quality from the rest of their league. It'll be a good coaching test to see how she does with basically Mario Cano's team.
I wish her well too, but have some recommended reading for parents sending their kids to play for her.
Not altogather nice! contradictory. you can't say some nice and turn around and interject something like that in your post.
Well, count that school out for my player. (We're looking at ACC anyway). God I can't stand that women. The talents of her players got her the spotlight in the last year or so of her tenure. I certainly wasen't due to her coaching ability. my 2 cents.....