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CHALK TALK
with
Men's Soccer Coach
Joel Bancroft
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"Chalk
Talk" is a feature that will focus on our outstanding coaches on staff
at St. Joe's.
The Royal Blue faithful will learn more about our coaches as they
are asked various questions about their experiences as a coach as
well as their life away from athletics.
Background
information about your playing days:
Bancroft was named as the Head Men's Soccer Coach prior to the 2008
season and will also serve as the Intramural and Home Game Coordinator
at Saint Joseph's. He came to St. Joe’s in 2006 and served as
an assistant men’s soccer coach and was the co-head coach in
2007 along with Michael Bolanz.
A graduate of Westbrook High School where he was a team captain and
received all-league honors, Bancroft went on to play at the collegiate
level for Southern Maine. While there he was named as a team captain
and received All-Little East honors. He has since played club soccer
with the Cumberland United side, where he has served as a captain
and been a part of five state championships.
Coach Bancroft is a graduate of the University of Southern Maine with
a degree in Liberal Arts and currently holds a "B" license
from the United Stated Soccer federation and is a member of the NSCAA.
He also coaches for the Maine Olympic Developmental program and is
the founder of Maximum Performance Training Systems, a sport-specific
training program for high school and collegiate players and teams.
Coach Bancroft currently lives in Portland with his wife, Lynn, and
their German shepherds, Kaiser and Raina.
When
did you realize that you wanted to be a coach?
I didn’t really. I was still trying to extend my playing career.
I was 26 and had a great experience the summer before training with
some teams in Stockholm, Sweden. I desperately wanted to get back
and see if I could make the team and play at that level. I began to
train and quickly found out that my surgically repaired ankle had
other ideas........ After some strong words from my orthopedist I
agreed with him that it might be more important to be able to walk
when I’m 40 then chase my dream. It was a good run........ So
then I fell into coaching. It’s the greatest thing that has
ever happened to me. All things happen for a reason.
Who
is your biggest influence as a coach?
My father is my greatest influence in anything that I do.
His work ethic to this day is untouchable. I remember him putting
16 hour days in to provide for our family and still make my games.
Sometimes he would be falling asleep as he watched but he was always
there. Funny thing is he didn’t even like soccer! As an athlete
himself, a lot of our relationship was forged on the local basketball
court. What I appreciate the most are the life lessons he taught me.
Dad if you’re reading this I want to thank you. I want to thank
you for never "letting" me win, I want to thank you for
telling me that the coach tells me when and where I play, I want to
thank you for taking me to play 2 on 2 against adults and not letting
me quit, I want to thank you for never being negative on the sidelines,
I want to thank you about not caring about trophies.........I could
go on forever.
In this day and age of participation=reward I am glad I was not a
part of that. As I write this a nine year-old kid was just banned
from playing youth baseball because he was too good!!!!!!
Ok I’m off my soapbox now.
What
is your most memorable moment as a player?
Tough one........I enjoyed every minute. I enjoyed all the regional
tournaments I played in with my club sides. I don’t know if
I could give you just one........
As
a coach?
If games were 78 minutes long I would have said last year's Johnson
and Wales game! Sorry boys.... Again it’s tough. It was fun
to take SMCC to the National Championships in West Virginia. My club
teams have put together some big wins in national tournaments.
I guess my most memorable moment as a coach isn’t this game
or that game, but to watch a team start at one point and to push themselves
everyday and get to a point where their level is much higher than
when they started. The boys did that last year with their late playoff
push. Refusing to quit and winning their last two games against teams
that were playoff bound was huge. Then to travel to the same Johnson
and Wales field that just weeks earlier we were outclassed to the
tune of 7-0 and be up 3-1 with 12 minutes left.......I was completely
torn. I was gutted for the boys as they punched out of their weight
class all day with everything they had but I was also a witness to
one of the greatest displays of courage, passion and physical risk
I have ever seen. The result didn’t take away from that.
What
is your funniest or most embarrassing moment as a coach?
I would have to say there are several on a yearly basis. I would probably
settle on last year when I struck a ball in training. Wet day.........you
know where I’m going with this.........completely fell on my
backside! Lots of laughs for the boys on that day!!
Favorites:
Movie:
Hoosiers
Food:
Sushi
Pro
sports team: Chelsea!
Pro
athlete and why? Larry Bird. All he did was work,
work, work, work. First to practice, last to leave.
Most
famous person you’ve met:
I’ll go with Billy Jean King, she has withstood the test of
time.
If
you could meet one person, past or present, who would it be and why?
Larry Bird. See above...........
Tell
us something about yourself that most people don’t know:
Born on Valentine's Day- I’m always the buyer on my birthday!
Just plain wrong......
Hobbies
away from your sport:
Knitting, long walks on the beach......sorry I couldn’t resist.
I’m pretty low key with my down time. I enjoy spending time
with my wonderfully supportive wife and my dogs. Watch the Sox, Celts
and Pats. Good time to be a fan in New England. Coach Bolanz keeps
telling me about some hockey team as well.......
What
you look for in a player when recruiting:
Character and passion to compete. I want guys that want to work and
be part of something bigger then themselves.
What
do you do in the off-season?
Ok, I knew there would be one trick question for the new guy! There
is no off-season.
What
does it mean for you and your team to be in the GNAC?
It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to get quality matches with
well respected programs throughout New England. Every athlete wants
an opportunity to play in the post season on the biggest stage. Unlike
teams in the past (when St. Joe’s held NCAA DIII Independent
status), we have the opportunity to play in the NCAA tournament every
year. We are very excited to play in the GNAC.
What
expectations do you have of your team every year?
My expectation is to be the best team we can be. From year to year
our place in the league will move around but if we are the best we
can be year in and year out the rest of it will take care of itself.
I don’t want us to chase wins or a certain record. I want our
program to chase excellence everyday in our community, classroom and
the pitch.
Anything
else you feel the web site readers should know about you/your program?
I just want to thank everyone for all the support we have already
received. I look forward to seeing you at our games!
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Check
out the previous "Chalk Talk" Features: |
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