Where a soccer team becomes ‘FAM-LY’
Matt Wilhalme
Turn this team into a family, that’s the goal of MCC’s men’s and women’s soccer teams and their paternal leader, Head Coach Andrew Guarneri.Guarneri started his new career at MCC 10 days before soccer pre-season.
Even with a tough start to the season against the number one ranked team in the nation, Guarneri has high goals and expectations for the season.
“I think that we will be putting an exciting brand of soccer on the field as the season goes on,” Guarneri said.
Guarneri’s system of soccer may be a little different from the norm, but he likes it that way.
“Where a team becomes FAM-LY” as the teams T-shirts read.
“There is no ‘I’ in team,” Guarneri explained, “You can’t be selfish, because it’s not about you, it’s about your team.”
Guarneri said he uses his experiences as a student, an athlete, and as an individual to instill his system of soccer on his teams.
“Soccer is what I picked up growing up,” Guarneri said. “It was something I was best at.”
He received a scholarship to play soccer for Butler University.
Guarneri played one year then left to attend Drake University and walk on to their soccer team.
He eventually ended up earning a scholarship and becoming a captain of the soccer team while at Drake.
Guarneri aims to surround himself with “Character people,” Guarneri said, “People who believe in my dream.”
After a student has made a commitment to the school and the program, he works to support them on any level.
This method has proved to be successful in the form of great teams and numerous awards.
Guarneri has led teams that have produced three All-Americans, four Academic All-Americans, and one National Team Award for Academics.
“My experiences help me a lot to understand where most of the kids are at,” Guarneri said.
Guarneri’s last coaching job was with Chandler-Gilbert Community College, where he established the Men’s Soccer program in 1998 and eventually went on to take over the coaching position for the Women’s Soccer team.
“The more fans who come out to the games the better,” Guarneri said, “We can always use more cheering faces in the stands.
