Staff Spotlight: Steve
Nugent
A driving force
behind Team Boca and one of the original staff coaches since 1989,
Coach Steve wears many hats within our club. He is now our High
School Age Director, College Recruitment Coordinator, Club
Administrator, and Coach in our High School Age Division working
mostly with our U16 and U18 White Team. Steve led the current U18
White team to State Championship appearances at U14, U15, and U16
winning the championship at U15. His U18 team is preparing to
graduate 14 players and all have verbally committed to play college
soccer in the fall of 2007. Steve just recently took over coaching
the U16 White team in the Fall and the team most recently competed
in the Raleigh Shootout and were the Champions of the Orange
Classic. From 1996 to 2003 Steve coached the 1985
team to 8 State Championship appearances winning the title an
unprecedented 7 times (an FYSA record). This team in 2000 made it
to the Southern Regional semi finals. Steve had the privilege of
working with some of Team Boca’s finest alumni from this team that
have gone on to tremendous success at the college level. Three of
the 1985 players (India Trotter, Nikki Resnick, and Theresa Rivera)
have spent time with both our youth and full national teams over the
years. Steve states,
"Coaching is my life. The game
of soccer has given so much to me, and I am grateful to have the
opportunity to pass on these experiences. It is a privilege to be
able to coach. Through coaching, I express the beliefs and values
that make me the person that I am. It is a joy to be able to work
everyday with a sport I love and with people that share the same
passions."
In addition, in
1998-99 Steve coached the 1982 team to a state title and regional
appearance. From that team there were five players with youth and
full national team experience (Lisa Gomez, Kara Rao, Maren Jaffee,
Nandi Pryce, and Amber Tollefson). At 17, Nandi Pryce became on the
youngest players to play in a full international when she played
against Norway in Ft. Lauderdale, FL in 2000. The 1982 team went on
to win another state championship in 2000 and 2001 under the
guidance of former staff coach Trevor Moawad. Since 1989 Steve has
coached 11 State Championship teams and has taken 15 teams to the
final four. In total, Steve has helped over 100 girls reach their
goal of playing high level college soccer and ultimately achieving
their educational goals. Many of the Team Boca players over the
years have represented both FYSA on the ODP state teams and over 30
different girls have been invited into the Region III ODP player
pool. We have had 3 players reach the ultimate goal of playing
for the US National Team (Kristy Whelchel, Nandi Pryce, India
Trotter) and one player, Lisa Gomez, has been full time with the
Mexican National team since 2002. 10 Different players have
represented the youth national teams since 1990.
In January 2006,
Steve received the prestigious honor of being selected as the NSCAA
Southern Region Coach of the Year. Steve was chosen amongst his
peers for his continued success on and off the field with Team
Boca.
The criteria used in selecting Coach Nugent was "the overall
strength of his resume along with the fact that he is extremely well
respected by his coaching peers" said Kathy Zolad, who is the NSCAA Selection Committee
Chairperson, as well as a current NSCAA Board Member.
The NSCAA also
awarded Steve with his NSCAA Advanced National Diploma with a
Distinguished Passing grade given to those candidates that show
promise in becoming future NSCAA Staff members. Steve
has been recognized by the City of Boca Raton on six occasions for
outstanding commitment to the youth of Boca Raton through soccer.
On two occasions his teams were awarded the Fair Play Award for
outstanding sportsmanship during the Southern Regional Tournament.
Coach Steve also
has had tremendous success working with high school age players in
the college recruiting process, which he will continue to do in his
new position. The Team Boca player alumni list represents some of
the finest institutions in the country such as Princeton, Brown,
University of Florida, Harvard, Notre Dame, SMU, Arizona State,
Auburn, FAU, UNCG, Dartmouth, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Maryland,
Colorado, Florida State University, American University, Vanderbilt,
Boston College, Naval Academy, Duke University, UCLA, and the
University of Miami. Steve goes on to say, "The
collegiate athletic experience involves more than practicing every
day and attending classes. It is about enrichment, being a part of
a team, learning to deal with adversity, and learning how to
compete. In many respects, athletics prepares the student athlete
for the challenges that await after graduation. For that reason, I
think it is important that coaches understand their own priorities
and philosophy so that they can better understand the goals and
priorities of those with whom they work. Below, are general
principles that are important in my life.
1. My
family comes first. 2."If you
don’t do it right the first time, when will you have the time to do
it right the second time?"3. Learn something new everyday. 4.
Treat people the way I
would like to be treated - act with class. 5.
Demand excellence in every
task I undertake. 6. Expect to win. Confidence is half of the
battle"
During
the 200-2001 college seasons, Steve spent time at FSU as an
assistant coach under current UGA head coach Patrick Baker and was
the lead assistant at Rice University under Head Coach Chris
Huston. The Seminoles at FSU made it to the Sweet Sixteen in
2000. Steve worked with Chris at
Rice at started the women’s program from scratch. The first season
was in 2001 and Steve helped to recruit the first class of 14
freshmen, worked on team sponsorship, prepared on field coaching,
and was the recruiting coordinator. From
1994-1996, Steve was a volunteer assistant coach at Lynn University
where the women won the 1995 NAIA National Championship and were the
1996 runner up. After
Steve’s wife Janna finished law school at FSU Steve decided to
return to the South Florida area to take on the task of becoming the
first full time Dir. Of Coaching for Team Boca.
Upon returning
to Team Boca in January of 2002 Steve was tasked with the
responsibility of formulating a philosophy of teaching both players
and coaches at Team Boca. With the help of strong base of
volunteers and committed staff, Team Boca was able to reach new
heights immediately. The staff that has been assembled over
the past five years is a direct result of the commitment of Team
Boca to insure the very best for its players. This commitment to
teaching the game is evident in not only the performance on the
field, but more importantly in the strong bond that is “Team Boca
Family”. Steve states, "What the club has achieved over the
years is truly remarkable, and
it is the commitment, passion, and desire of so many people that
made it happen. The people that have laid the plans for the success
and structure you see today are the true heroes of Team Boca. We
are all indebted to the administrators, coaches, players, teams,
managers, and parents that have committed their time and effort to
building a strong club. In addition to the immediate Team Boca
family, we are grateful to the countless number of college coaches
and people in the extended soccer community that have helped our
girls reach their goals over the years."
Since 2002 Team
Boca has put more teams in the FYSA Final Four than any other club.
In 2004, we enjoyed the most success ever for a girls program in FL
sending 6 teams to the final four. That year Team Boca took home
three state titles (U15, U18, and U19) and all three teams
represented FL at Southern Regionals in Austin, TX. Team Boca has
grown from 22 to 35 teams over the past six years. Team Boca
has made its mark over the years competing well in many national
events. Our teams have been very successful at WAGS, the Surf
Cup, Houston Shootout, Raleigh Shootout, Score and the Shore, Final
Four Showcase, Orange Classic, Disney, etc. Being a part of
these events has given Team Boca players the unique opportunity to
showcase themselves in front of college coaches of all levels. In addition
to the growth of the program through its players, Steve was also
instrumental in securing the first ever multi year contract with our
supplier Adidas. Adidas is synonymous with what is excellent
in soccer and Team Boca and Adidas are a perfect match.
Since 2000 Steve
has been the Director of the Saint Andrew’s Soccer Academy held in
Boca Raton, FL. His camp experience goes back to Indiana Univ.,
Univ. of Texas, FSU, Lacy Camps, Soccer Vision Camp, and NY Cosmos
camps since 1990.
Steve spent 5
years from 1991 to 1996 with Saint Andrews School as a physical
education teacher, substitute history teacher, soccer coach,
Assistant Director of the summer soccer camps and Director of the
summer sports camp working with over 500 children ranging in age
from 7 to 14. Steve helped build the St. Andrew’s soccer camp
from a one-week event to three weeks within two years with over 250
campers in attendance and featuring coaches from throughout the
United States and Europe. Additionally, Steve spent two years (1999
& 2000) as the Assistant Director of Camp Matoaka for Girls located
in Smithfield, Maine. This all-girl residential summer camp catered
to campers from all over the United States. Steve was responsible
for the recruiting of new camper families, day to day operation of
the winter office, the hiring and training of all staff members, and
the implementation of Camp Matoaka’s daily program during the
summer.
Steve holds the
NSCAA Advance National (with distinction), USSF B License, NSCAA
Level 1 Goalkeeping, KNVB Dutch, and the National Youth License.
Steve is also a staff coach with FYSA ODP (former asst. coach with
1982 and 1983 girls ODP), FYSA State Cup committee
member, and is a director with the Orange Classic Soccer Tournament
held in Ft. Lauderdale, FL each December. Steve has also
coordinated D coaching courses for FYSA, NSCAA coaching courses, and
been the site director for the ODP Inter Regional Event held each
Thanksgiving.
Steve and his
wife Janna, an attorney with Greenberg Traurig, live in Boca Raton
with their son Trevor.
