The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/98466
tracking the PACK N New Coach Tim Santoro Is Ready To Re-Energize NC State's Women's Soccer Program ew NC State women's soccer coach Tim Santoro is excited to take on the challenge of leading the Wolfpack back into contention in the ACC. Santoro was hired Nov. 30 and he replaces Steve Springthorpe, who compiled a 30-43-4 record in four years at NCSU, including 5-14 overall and 0-10 in the ACC this fall. Santoro arrives from Wake Forest where he was the associate head coach and worked in Winston-Salem, N.C., since 2009. "It's great because getting a head coaching job is exciting enough, but to stay in the conference that is obviously the pinnacle of women's soccer is exciting," said Santoro, 40, who grew up in Bridgeton, N.J., and attended Catawba College. "The opening was available for a reason, so we'll have some challenges ahead." "If you have the ball, it's tough for the other team to score. We want them to be technically very proficient and keep the ball. I'm under no false illusions. We will have to be very good defensively and adjust to things." ■ Santoro NC State featured zero seniors on the 2012 team, and has 12 freshmen, 10 sophomores and five juniors slated to come back. "I haven't been able to train with them yet, so I don't know how they'll react to my environment and culture, but they are a young team, which is exciting to see," Santoro said. "We'll be returning a lot of players and we'll need training sessions and interaction with them to find out what we are lacking, what we need to improve and what we need to have." When Wake Forest lost 2-1 to Notre Dame in the second round of the NCAA Championships, Santoro wondered a bit where his future might take him, but he had no inkling it would be as the head coach at another ACC school. Santoro knows it will take some time at NC State, but he believes he can have success. "I've been in the ACC for five years, and I've seen all the schools, but our facilities [at NCSU], infrastructure, our support and resources are as good as any," Santoro said. "They really are, and what we have going on here is really good. There are enough kids out there if you do your homework and due diligence." Santoro brings a reputation as a quality recruiter and expects to Santoro, who spent the last five seasons as an assistant at Wake Forest, inherits a Wolfpack team that had 12 freshmen, 10 sophomores and five juniors on its 2012 roster. photo courtesy nc state media relations go wherever is needed to make the Wolfpack a contender in the ACC. Admittedly, he doesn't have many scholarships available for the classes of 2013 and 2014, but he'll keep his eye out for a quality transfer or prep player to add to the returning base of talent. "We have a great university in a great city in a great conference," Santoro said. "Those are all things you want. You want to be in a good location. You want to be in the most competitive environment and get a good education. There are only X amount of schools that can say that around the country, and we are one of them. That is exactly what I would tell recruits." The NC State players will be fundamentally sound, and that starts with passing the ball well and maintaining possession. The exhibitions in the spring will help him implement his schemes. "If you have the ball, it's tough for the other team to score," Santoro said. "We want them to be technically very proficient and keep the ball. I'm under no false illusions. We will have to be very good defensively and adjust to things." — Jacey Zembal 10 ■ the wolfpacker 10-12,14,16,18.Wolfpack News.indd 10 12/11/12 2:38 PM