Off The Field With Kerry O'Malley

Kerry O'Malley
SPRING JOURNAL
January-May 2006

SPRING MUSINGS

After looking back on this spring semester it has made me realize how fast college passes you by. It is unreal to even think that I am going to be a senior next year and play my final collegiate soccer season. This semester has been very eventful, and for me, it has brought about a new excitement for my final year at Bonaventure.

Coming into the second semester of school was a time filled with many emotions. Our team graduated 8 seniors who played a major role on our team. However, we were left with 13 talented players and we were all ready and willing to begin our spring season with a new perception of hard work and dedication. I really feel that this spring has prepared us for the mentality that is needed to win and be successful in the conference.

With the winter always comes lots of snow here at Bonaventure. But I believe that the cold really does unite the students here on campus. From basketball games to weekends with friends, I have had a great time over the past couple of months. My teammates and I spent many weekends in the RC watching basketball as the Bonnies took on other teams in the A10. We all have so much fun together and believe me, there have been many laughs and inside jokes over the course of the semester. From battles with our townhouse neighbors on the baseball team, to late nights and Sunday morning jam sessions with Tini, Lee and Hez- we have been having an amazing time together.

Our team also began practicing when we got settled in after returning from Christmas break. With our assistant coach Jaime Snyder taking over, and a national search for a new head coach, we all realized that it was going to take a strong personal desire to work hard and get better. Our spring season began with lifting 3 times a week. We lift on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Friday afternoons together as a team. Our spring practices also started up, however Jaime wasn't able to run them until February because of the NCAA rules. We would scrimmage and play as much as possible and our weekly 5v5 games began getting intense when many of the men's players joined in. Our games were entertaining, especially when some random athletes wanted to play and pretend that they could beat us.

As the weeks passed Jaime was now able to coach us and run practice on a regular basis. We started to prepare for our first indoor tournament at Houghton College. We traveled to Houghton early on a Saturday morning and of course it was snowing. When is it not snowing in Western NY? I feel that the tournament was definitely a learning experience for us. It was 6v6 and although we did not play to our potential, we figured out many things that we needed to work on over the next few weeks. Practice became more intense, and Jaime was always creative finding new ways to incorporate certain tactical concepts into practice. One game that was essential was our intense games of handball in the RC to work on "off the ball movement." I truly feel that the dedication of Jaime and all the time and effort that she has given us has helped us in so many ways. We would have been lost without her!

The next tournament was one that we hosted here at the RC. We played much better this weekend, and to me it seemed as though the pieces that were missing before were starting to connect. It was good for us to score some great goals, and move the ball in the back. That particular weekend made me see that with hard work comes improvement.

THE SEARCH

The winter months were also an especially busy time for me. I was fortunate enough to take part in the search committee which was responsible for hiring our new head coach. It was a great honor being the student athlete representative along with four other members of both the athletic and academic staff. I feel that I have learned so many new things about both the vision of this school, as well as what it takes to be a great coach at the Division 1 level.

The search process began by reading and processing over 100 applications. The search committee met once or twice a week to discuss certain candidates and the positive things that many of them could bring to Bonaventure. From those 100 applications, the candidates were narrowed down to a smaller group that we considered the "best" applicants. One of the responsibilities of being on the search committee was to contact references of each of the candidates. This process made me recognize the dedication that so many coaches put into their teams. I have a new understanding for the responsibilities that a University places on each coach and a stronger appreciation for the relationship between a coach and his/her players. As the weeks passed and the pool of candidates began to be narrowed down, we finally were able pick out our top applicants that we felt were best qualified for this particular position. We completed a phone interview with each of the candidates, and the committee met to discuss our reactions. The top two candidates were chosen, Manoj Khettry being one, and we scheduled them to come to campus.

During each of the coach's visits, they met with many individuals who have a significant role at Bonaventure. Each candidate also had time to meet with our team. I feel that this meeting was very important to all of us. We were able to ask any questions that we had or discuss any concerns that we might be feeling. My teammates did an exceptional job "drilling" each coach with important questions. And of course, what would our team be without some random questions along the way. Yes, a few of us even had a page long list of questions so we wouldn't forget. Both the candidates were impressed with how prepared we were as a group to meet with them.

Finally came the time to nominate the best candidate. With input from so many individuals, including the input from all of us, Manoj was offered the job, accepted it and was hired to be our new coach. I know that I can say it was a great relief and I feel that my teammates would probably say the same. We all feel really good about our new coach and I know he is really excited to be working with all of us!

FINAL THOUGHTS

Although I have been recovering from surgery on my knee due to a torn meniscus, these last few weeks of school have been the most enjoyable of the spring semester. The grass is green and campus is lively and as active as ever! We spend many afternoons lying in the sun, playing soccer or football on the grass, and just enjoying college life. St. Bonaventure's annual Spring Weekend events start this Thursday along with the student softball tournament.

As school is winding down, our team is finishing up with our last lift and conditioning. We plan on having an "end of the year get together" at Jaime's house for cookie sundaes. (WE LOVE TO EAT!)

Manoj has been to campus to meet with all of us and implement our training program for the rest of the semester and the summer. We now have standards of expectation in our physical testing, fitness testing and goals that will help us to avoid pre-season fitness! YEAH! Manoj did a power-point for us with his long term and short term goals for us as individuals, the program and for us beyond college. Everyone enjoyed it and felt like his goals for us were realistic and I think they have become our goals as well!

It's great that he has a vision and a strategic plan to help us get to where he believes we can be as a program and as individuals. Each of us was able to have an individual meetings with him in which he asked us a lot of questions and we were able to ask him direct questions. I know all of us appreciated his honesty and how easy it was to speak to him about anything and the attitude of our team is one of enthusiasm, commitment and hard work.

I know that we are all anxiously awaiting the end of classes, but I know for me there is also a new excitement for next season to come. I really feel that the Atlantic 10 is going to be very surprised by the Bonnies and if nothing else, our attitude to excel and to achieve has been sparked again!

Kerry O'Malley #10