Ranked No. 13 and holding a 10-3-1 record going into tonight’s matchup vs. Centenary, coach George Tarantini’s men’s soccer team is off to one of the best starts of his 23-year coaching tenure. Technician Senior Staff Writer Fidelis Lusompa caught up with the Pack soccer coach and asked him about what’s made this season so successful, the highlights of his career in Raleigh and the football team’s upcoming trip to Tallahassee.
Technician: What’s made this team so successful this year?
Tarantini: The defense and the amount of work we’ve put in. The different approach we have, the commitment of the players and the assistant coaches.
Technician: You guys have a couple of games left before the start of the ACC tournament Nov. 10; what improvements do you guys need to make before then?
Tarantini: We’ve talked about different formations. Just seeing how we can grow and keep improving. We need to score more. In other words, we need everyone to participate more, be involved more to become more successful. We need to keep preparing for the next challenge.
Technician: What does Ronnie Bouemboue’s nomination for the Lowe’s Senior Class Award mean to you and to the program?
Tarantini: To me, we not only want to have a good soccer player, we want a great person. We’ve been working very hard to bring to the program people who understand us that way. I think Ronnie is doing that. Not only Ronnie, but a lot of people in this program, everyone on our team, [are] doing an exceptional job. For me and the team, we are excited.
Technician: A lot of people have talked about the program being down for a number of years; did you have any thoughts about walking away from coaching before this season’s success?
Tarantini: I’ve always been honest. I’ve been here for a long time. I just want to take it one year at a time. I want to keep seeing the program improve. Right now, we need to concentrate [on getting] a win [today]. It is a huge game, so we need to focus on what we need to do.
Technician: You’ve been at State for 26 years, three years as an assistant, 23 years as a head coach; what’s been your favorite moment from other State sports?
Tarantini: From people like former men’s basketball coach Jimmy Valvano, former women’s basketball coach Kay Yow and former baseball coach Sam Esposito. So many people who’ve touched me. So many people have made me a better person, helped me to become a better coach. So many people who’ve been a part of my life for so many years. I cannot think of one particular moment. There’ve been so many great moments and opportunities with these people.
Technician: With this being coach Steve Springthorpe’s first year with the women’s soccer team, what were your first thoughts when you first met him and what is your relationship with him now?
Tarantini: That’s a really good question. He’s very knowledgeable. He’s very excited about the program. I like the vision he brings to the table. We are really excited [about] women’s soccer. We are really excited for the future. He will bring many things to the program, his personality, his excitement. We are very excited for women’s soccer. A lot of positive things are going on.
Technician: Last question, the football game Saturday is going to be big; can you give me an idea of who’s going to win and a final score?
Tarantini: I can’t give you a particular score, but I have a good feeling about our football game. We have a great quarterback and we are going to score a lot of points. I think we are going to be successful. I want every sport to win, particularly football and basketball, it will really help us, in every way. I really want them to be successful, it’s what we need.
