North Carolina State University Athletics
Photo by: Greg Mintel
Six Questions with Coach Santoro
7/27/2015 10:58:00 AM | Women's Soccer
RALEIGH, N.C. - NC State women's soccer head coach Tim Santoro sat down with GoPack.com to talk about the upcoming 2015 season and the future of the Wolfpack program.
GoPack.com: You're preparing to begin your third season at NC State this fall. What are you looking forward to this year?
Tim Santoro: Having a little more depth. Our roster is more expanded and we have a few more options. The roster turnover is starting to really take shape, and as a staff we've been able to have a big impact on building a team. I like where we are. We had a good spring; it was the best spring we've had since I've been here. I think it's the first year where we have a chance to make an impact in the conference if we're able to stay healthy.
GoPack: Talk about the culture of the program and any changes which have occurred.
Santoro: The student-athletes understand how serious it is. They understand that to be an ACC soccer player, it is the highest level of women's soccer in this country, and what kind of commitment it takes on and off the field year-round to play this at this level. They truly understand what I want. They know that you have to have your priorities in order—academically and socially—and that affects your athletic career. I think that they understand what this program is about now and we finally have a culture where that's all taking shape.
GoPack: Jenna Kalwa and Jackie Stengel have been named team captains for 2015. Talk about the process of that decision and what is expected from them this year.
Santoro: The process was simple. From observation, those two, both from on the field performance and off the field commitment, they are leaders and the team tends to follow them. Sometimes those things pick themselves. It was my decision, but it was really an easy one. I think they have set the tone before they were named captains, so that if it would have gone to a vote, I think it would have been unanimous.
GoPack: The team has performed quite well academically in recent years. How important is that to the program?
Santoro: It's very important. Before we stress wins and losses, we focus on academics. We recently ranked highly in the APR and had the highest GPA since I've been here. There are no issues. The women know what the priorities are and we are not going to compromise. This program will win over the next three years, but we're also going to be academically competitive.
GoPack: The challenging nonconference schedule begins August 21. What are you hoping to achieve in that stretch of the schedule?
Santoro: I want to get playing time for our young players and get them acclimated to playing top competition. That's why we are doing what we are doing with the schedule. We have a really tough scrimmage (South Carolina) and a challenging road trip (to San Diego and Pepperdine). Dealing with travel and tough competition, there's a plan to that. But in saying that, I expect to come out of those early games with some results.
GoPack: Talk about the incoming freshman class.
Santoro: I think the class is going to have an impact and I think the players in the class will get major minutes. Whether that's at the start of the season or not, I don't know. I think they all have a really good chance to, but again, with the makeup of women's soccer recruiting, you are recruiting 24 months in advance. With me having been here for about 24 months, you can do the math and see that this is the group we were able to identify when we first got in. This is kind of the first group we've gone the full cycle with and I think they are all players who belong in the ACC and who will all have an impact in the league. All six of them may have an opportunity to make contributions fairly quickly.
GoPack.com: You're preparing to begin your third season at NC State this fall. What are you looking forward to this year?
Tim Santoro: Having a little more depth. Our roster is more expanded and we have a few more options. The roster turnover is starting to really take shape, and as a staff we've been able to have a big impact on building a team. I like where we are. We had a good spring; it was the best spring we've had since I've been here. I think it's the first year where we have a chance to make an impact in the conference if we're able to stay healthy.
GoPack: Talk about the culture of the program and any changes which have occurred.
Santoro: The student-athletes understand how serious it is. They understand that to be an ACC soccer player, it is the highest level of women's soccer in this country, and what kind of commitment it takes on and off the field year-round to play this at this level. They truly understand what I want. They know that you have to have your priorities in order—academically and socially—and that affects your athletic career. I think that they understand what this program is about now and we finally have a culture where that's all taking shape.
GoPack: Jenna Kalwa and Jackie Stengel have been named team captains for 2015. Talk about the process of that decision and what is expected from them this year.
Santoro: The process was simple. From observation, those two, both from on the field performance and off the field commitment, they are leaders and the team tends to follow them. Sometimes those things pick themselves. It was my decision, but it was really an easy one. I think they have set the tone before they were named captains, so that if it would have gone to a vote, I think it would have been unanimous.
GoPack: The team has performed quite well academically in recent years. How important is that to the program?
Santoro: It's very important. Before we stress wins and losses, we focus on academics. We recently ranked highly in the APR and had the highest GPA since I've been here. There are no issues. The women know what the priorities are and we are not going to compromise. This program will win over the next three years, but we're also going to be academically competitive.
GoPack: The challenging nonconference schedule begins August 21. What are you hoping to achieve in that stretch of the schedule?
Santoro: I want to get playing time for our young players and get them acclimated to playing top competition. That's why we are doing what we are doing with the schedule. We have a really tough scrimmage (South Carolina) and a challenging road trip (to San Diego and Pepperdine). Dealing with travel and tough competition, there's a plan to that. But in saying that, I expect to come out of those early games with some results.
GoPack: Talk about the incoming freshman class.
Santoro: I think the class is going to have an impact and I think the players in the class will get major minutes. Whether that's at the start of the season or not, I don't know. I think they all have a really good chance to, but again, with the makeup of women's soccer recruiting, you are recruiting 24 months in advance. With me having been here for about 24 months, you can do the math and see that this is the group we were able to identify when we first got in. This is kind of the first group we've gone the full cycle with and I think they are all players who belong in the ACC and who will all have an impact in the league. All six of them may have an opportunity to make contributions fairly quickly.
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