By By Amanada Guerriero
As the only head coach in the women’s soccer program’s 14-year history, it only seems fitting the Pride got its first NCAA bid and won its first CAA championship the season before JoAnne Russell retires.
Russell, who announced she will call it quits after this year. took the program from a club team to a NCAA Division I team in only one season. She came to the team in 1992 and after a club record of 12-3, the team was lifted to the varsity level as a Division I team.
In the team’s second year on the varsity level, its outstanding record of 16-2-1 aided the Pride in getting a berth to the ECAC Women’s Soccer Tournament. The team has taken off since Russell has taken over and continued to grow each year. The Pride has improved under Russell and last weekend it made its first appearance in the CAA championship game, won and now will face West Virginia University in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
On Nov. 1, Russell decided to retire at the conclusion of this season for a few different reasons. “I’ve been here for 14 years and sometimes your heart just tells you that it’s the right time to go,” Russell said. “My heart says it’s time for new blood, some new energy, but I’ll still be around.”
Russell has been comtemplating retirement for the past year or so, but only she knew when the time would be right for both her and the team to move on.
“It’s been a great run, I loved every minute of it, but there is a time in your life when you have to say, alright, next stage,” she said.
Russell has compiled quite a career at the helm of the Pride. Her record stands at 150-90-18, including the first season as a club team. Obviously this record will change by the time Russell retires, depending on what happens in the NCAA tournament.
In the last seven seasons, the Pride hasn’t finished less than third in the conference and has qualified for the CAA Tournament in each of those years.
Once Russell walks away from coaching the Pride, she will be walking away from coaching forever.
“If I was going to coach anywhere I would stay at Hofstra,” Russell said.
Since Russell won’t be coaching anymore, she plans on spending her time in other ways. “I’m going to spend some time with my grandchildren and probably do some traveling,” she said. “I’ll be watching all the different Hofstra sports.” Although, she won’t officially be part of the coaching staff, Russell said she would do what she could, but most importantly, “I will certainly be their number one fan and their number one supporter.”
Simon Riddiough, a former part of the Pride’s men’s soccer team, has been a part of Russell’s coaching staff for the past 10 years. Riddiough will take over as head coach of the team after this season.
“I know I am leaving the program in great hands,” Russell said about Riddiough taking over the team.