Riverland Community College will field its first-ever competitive soccer team in the fall and has hired Dr. Soner Dogan to coach. His coaching responsibilities will include conducting practices, coordinating athlete conditioning, travel with the team, recruiting future players and other related responsibilities.
David Lillemon, athletic director, said Riverland based the decision to add a men's soccer team on the recent growth of competitive soccer in the region's high schools. "This is a big step for Riverland," Lillemon said. "We think we have an opportunity to offer a sport that will attract a whole new student clientele at Riverland."
"In these tough economic times, you're not necessarily thinking about adding teams," said Ron Langrell, executive vice president of Riverland. "The college eliminated golf as a sport in 2009. Although we are implementing a number of budget reductions this year, it's very exciting when someone of Soner's athletic and academic caliber presents the college the opportunity to better serve communities in a multitude of ways."
Riverland added men's soccer to its strategic plan in 2005. Dogan was hired after a regional search for both instructor and coach.
Dogan has been involved with soccer at every level. He played varsity soccer as a student at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Ankara University, Turkey. A certified soccer referee, he has officiated at professional and college levels, including Big-10. He has officiated high school and youth soccer games for 12 years. He was assistant coach for the men's soccer team at Hamline University in 1999 and coached youth soccer in Plymouth and Austin, Minn.
"I have passion for two things; teaching and soccer," Dogan said. "With my current teaching/coaching position I can do both." Besides coaching, Dogan has Master's and Ph.D degrees from the University of Minnesota and has been conducting research on breast cancer and obesity at the Hormel Institute for the past five years. He has also been teaching biology classes at Riverland.
"We're thrilled to have someone with Soner's experience heading our men's soccer team," said Langrell. "Fielding a new team in any sport is challenge for a college, but with Soner coaching we feel we have a head start. Riverland intends to add Women's soccer in 2010."
The Riverland athletics program adds soccer to its other competitive teams that include Men's basketball and baseball and women's volleyball, basketball and softball. "My job is to help students to achieve their life goals," Dogan said. "After completing our programs at Riverland, student-athletes will be better prepared for their life and will have stronger personality and character. If I can contribute a little in a student's life-adventure while at Riverland I'll be the happiest person on earth."
Riverland Community College is a member of the Minnesota Community College Conference (MCCC) and National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XIII. Eligibility requirements are established by the NJCAA and the MCCC.
Riverland Community College, a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, is a regional comprehensive community college inspiring learning for living through a personalized educational environment. Approximately 4,000 students are served, annually, through a wide range of credit-based educational opportunities. An additional 5,600 students are annually served in non-credit courses. Facilities are located in Albert Lea, Austin, and Owatonna, Minn. Riverland may be found on the Internet at www.riverland.edu.
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system comprises 32 state universities and community and technical colleges serving the higher education needs of Minnesota. The system serves about 250,000 students per year in credit-based courses and an additional 140,000 students in non-credit courses.
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