Riverland adds men's soccer program

By Scott A. Kolb

Post-Bulletin, Austin MN 

Riverland Community College will field its first-ever competitive soccer team in the fall and has hired Dr. Sonar Dogan to be the coach next season.

According to Riverland athletic director David Lillemon, the school 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."

The addition of a soccer program at Riverland comes on the heels of the elimination of the school's golf team earlier this year.

"In these tough economic times, you're not necessarily thinking about adding teams," said Ron Langrell, executive vice president of Riverland.

"Although we are implementing a number of budget reductions this year, it's very exciting when someone of Dogan's athletic and academic caliber presents the college the opportunity to better serve communities in a multitude of ways."

Dogan was hired after a regional search for both instructor and coach. Dogan has been involved with the sport of 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, Dogan has officiated at the professional and college levels, including the Big Ten Conference. He has officiated high school and youth soccer games for the past 12 years. He was assistant coach for the men's soccer team at Hamline University in 1999, and also coached youth soccer in the Plymouth and Austin programs.

"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 Sonar's experience heading our men's soccer team," Langrell said. "Fielding a new team in any sport is a challenge for a college, but with Sonar 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 which 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."