Shupirates
DH: What was your ultimate decision to come home to Seton Hall?
RS: “The great experiences I’ve had here, I just felt like this was the place. This place has a ton of potential; it definitely has a lot of resources in the Big East.”
DH: What was the best individual moment during your playing time at Seton Hall?
RS: “Best individual moment would be when we qualified for Big East when I was playing under Kazbek Tambi. Also, hosting the first round and being able to beat St. Johns.”
DH: Has former women’s soccer head coach Kazbek Tambi given you any advice for your first season?
RS: “Coach Tambi was a great mentor of mine. When I was an administrator here I was able to work with him as a sport administrator, and then he offered me a chance to come back as an assistant.”
DH: What can your experiences from your playing days bring to the table, now that you’re on the sidelines?
RS: “Well, I definitely know what type of student likes Seton Hall, so having that as a recruiting tool helps. Really just knowing the small school environment is important. I’ve always been around a small school environment—I went to a small college myself, went to becoming the athletic director at a small high school in Belmar, N.J. called Saint Rose’s High School and coming here as an administrator.”
DH: What is your favorite part about the coaching gig?
RS: “Just coaching itself; being an educator off the field, being a liaison in terms of academics and life experiences. Being a coach is always something that has been in my DNA.”
DH: What is the difference between coaching in college and coaching at Sky Blue FC?
RS: “I wouldn’t say there is much of a difference. On both levels you’re a manager, so you have to be able to really be able to relate to the athletes as people. The biggest difference, if there is any, is with the professionals you have them full time—it’s their job.”
DH: What is your favorite thing to do when you are not coaching?
RS: “Spend time with my family. I have a beautiful wife, but I also have two girls who are involved with the game themselves—nine and six, Rian and Kylie.”
DH: What is your favorite sport other than soccer?
RS: “It was always baseball growing up. I grew up a baseball player, wrestling was another sport. I grew to love lacrosse, but baseball was my passion growing up as a kid.”
DH: Favorite vacation spot?
RS: “I’ve been to the Bahamas quite a few times with the family. My family lives in South Carolina so we get to go visit them quite often. However, on my honeymoon many years ago, Hawaii was one of the most fascinating places I have ever been.”
DH: Do you have any pregame superstitions that have carried over from your playing days to your coaching career?
RS: “It’s funny because as a player I never really did. But as I became a coach I had some tendencies. For example: when we were winning I noticed the outfit I wore and would continue to wear it until the streak was broken. I know right now, I’m not wearing the same outfits—I’m trying to mix and match shirts here and there.”
DH: Is there a team motto for this season?
RS: “I would say—‘Our commitment and character will lead to our success.’”
David Heim can be reached at david.heim@student.shu.edu or on twitter @davidheim12.
