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Interview with Lisa Cole: What It’s Really Like to Work with Olympic Gold Medalist, Tony DiCicco
By Amanda | April 24, 2008
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This photo is of myself, Emma Hayes and Lisa Cole at the NSCAA convention in Baltimore, MD, January 2008.
I recently caught up with Lisa Cole, who was just named assistant coach of the new WPS Boston Breakers, scheduled to begin play in 2009. I’m lucky to know Lisa through both Region 1 ODP and the NSCAA Women’s Committee, where she single-handedly organized, scheduled, and recruited for the 2008 Women’s Soccer Symposium at the Algarve Cup in Portugal. I was impressed by her ability to secure big-time presenters including April Heinrichs, former US National Team Coach; Dr. Colleen Hacker, Sports Psychologist for the US Women’s National Team; and Pia Sundhage, current US National Team Coach.
One of the Algarve Cup participants wrote to me to say, “Lisa Cole provided valuable insight, commentary, oversight, logistics, transportation, and guidance. She was the driving force for creating an NSCAA course at this event and acted as a liaison between our symposium group and the staff of the various national teams; it was often at her request that coaches agreed to come chat with us. As she’s a very experienced coach as well as world-class goalkeeper coach, she added important observations to both April and Colleen’s discussions, as well as solved problems with logistics, and kept things running smoothly and efficiently.”
While she was the Head Women’s Soccer Coach at the University of Rhode Island, Lisa said she has been blessed throughout her career to have the opportunity to be around several great coaching minds. As the President of SoccerPlus Connecticut, she works day in and day out with Tony DiCicco, former U.S. Women’s National Team Coach. Lisa is part of the Olympic Development Staff for Region 1 and has traveled throughout Europe to coach against many youth national teams. She also coached Mark Krikorian’s Florida State goalkeepers to the NCAA Final Four. Lisa is a USSF “A” Licensed Coach, holds an NSCAA Premier Diploma and is an NSCAA National Staff Coach.
In the following interview, Lisa takes us backstage with the new Boston Breakers to talk about the team’s preparations and her experiences as Tony DiCicco’s assistant.
Amanda: Lisa, Thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions. To start, what is your position at the Boston Breakers?
Lisa: I will be working with Tony DiCicco as the Assistant Coach for the Boston Breakers, which will include planning, recruiting, coaching and helping with some of the logistics for the team when we are on the road.
Amanda: How are the Boston Breakers preparing for 2009? Recruiting, Hiring, Planning, Facilities, Schedules, etc.
Lisa: Well most of these questions should go to Joe Cummings, the President and General Manager for the Breakers. He has hired, and is hiring, at the office level. He has an excellent team already in place. Kairin Piscitelli is the Director of Sponsorship and Marketing Communications, Andy Crossley is the Director of Business Development and Greta Teller is the Marketing and Business Development Assistant. They are doing an excellent job getting things in place for next year.
As you know last week the Breakers announced that we will play at Harvard, so that is exciting news. Again a job well done by the front office staff.
Schedules will all be done at a later date, and I am guessing at the league level, as we get closer to 2009.
As far as players go, Tony and I are in the process of collecting names of potential players and making phone calls. We will be watching games this summer as we are coaching the SoccerPlus CT Reds in the WPSL, and getting to other W-League, WPSL games and a trip or two overseas to see players. It will be a busy summer and fall as we will be actively out scouting players in order to be prepared for the WPS draft. Tony also has on his schedule preparing the U.S. U20’s for a World Cup in Chile so we will be all over making sure we know the players that will be available in this draft and the next.
Amanda: What’s it like working so closely with Tony DiCicco?
Lisa: This is an over simplification but…It’s great! I have been lucky to have worked for Tony’s SoccerPlus Camps now for 11 years and to coach with him last summer was very rewarding, I picked up something everyday, his knowledge and passion for the game and the players is inspiring. It’s fun. I can’t wait for the Breakers season to get here. I look forward to continuing to grow as a coach under him. Not too many times in life do you get a chance to be around someone who is among the best at what they do, I get to be around one of the best everyday. Plus he is just a good person. Like I said, It’s great!
Amanda: What do you think will give Boston Breakers a competitive advantage over the other WPS teams?
Lisa: I don’t know if I would say we have a competitive advantage over any of the other teams. I think as an organization we have some things going for us that are very positive. The Boston Breakers in the WUSA were successful. Joe Cummings is back as President and General Manager, Karin Piscitelli was in that front office as well and is back. So that is helpful to have experience in those areas but some of the other teams have that too. I think players will want to play on a team that is well organized and they know that we will be one of those teams with the track recorded these people have. I also think having Tony as the head coach is an advantage to us and that he was named early. Other than that I think the teams will all have to do a good job researching the players available for the draft and be prepared to select a team that can win together.
Amanda: Do you think WPS will be successful with its current business model - Why or why not?
Lisa: Well I am not a business person but I have listened to the town meetings and done my own research and I believe in the plan they have put together. I think it is going to be important for soccer fans to support the game by buying tickets! Coaches bring your teams to games, it is important for their development as players but also because they need positive female role models. Youth soccer needs to get behind the WPS and has. The teams and players themselves will have to be active in their communities to gain support and fans. But the plan is realistic, the numbers are realistic. The league has taken some of the lessons learned from the WUSA and come up with a plan that can work and I am excited to be apart of it.
Amanda: What obstacles, if any, have you come across during this planning phase of WPS?
Lisa: Again this is a better question for Joe Cummings and the people in our office and the leagues office. I know they have over come some great obstacles to get us to this point. Tonya Antonucci especially has been leading that charge but like anything worth while it is not easy and these people continue to address any and all obstacles as they come.
Amanda: Who’s your favorite member of the women’s committee?
Lisa: Very funny…is this on or off the record – because I think Sue is still my boss?
Amanda: Thanks so much for your time. Is there anything else you’d like to say about Boston, the Breakers, WPS, or soccer in general?
Lisa: Well I am excited to be in Boston and to be a part of the WPS. As far as soccer in general, this is a very important time for women’s soccer. With the Olympics, two youth world cups, and Women’s Professional Soccer coming in 2009, it’s a time for fans to be excited about what lies ahead.
Keep your eyes on Soccer Science, I have a few follow-up questions for Lisa that I will be posting soon! –Amanda
Topics: Interviews, Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer |