By Aidan Mastandrea and Joe Caruso
Sports Editor and Staff Writer
The College’s men's soccer team has not had a winning season since their 2019, 10-4-4 campaign. It was clear a change might be needed, and when longtime head coach George Nazario stepped down in June, the College had a chance to start fresh.
After a small search, PJ Ringel got tagged as the interim head coach for the 2024 season. For those familiar with the College’s athletics, that name may sound familiar, but not from soccer.
Ringel was a star on the court for the men’s basketball team winning an NJAC championship in 2019. He also was a graduate assistant on Matthew Goldsmith's staff this past season, helping claim another NJAC championship.
While that experience in the blue and gold is great, it certainly begs the question of whether Ringel can be a men's soccer coach. A team deprived of success, turning to a man with no college soccer experience may seem strange on the outside, but behind closed doors, the College and the program are excited to see what Ringel can do.
Culture is the key in this hiring for the College. With all of his achievements on the court in Packer Hall, the hope is that Ringel can bring that to the soccer program that is so desperate for an identity.
“Obviously it’s a ‘what the hell’ hire, but the school had faith in me and the people I brought on staff,” said Ringel.
Ringel played soccer from a young age and was a three year varsity soccer player at Marlboro High School. He scored 21 goals and tallied 6 assists his senior year taking home first team all-state honors. Despite having many Division 1 soccer offers, Ringel chose to play basketball instead.
The interim tag is only for a year, as the College has said they will conduct a national search for a coach after the season, but Ringel’s goal is to win the full-time job and be here long-term.
“Culture is built from its athletes, you just need someone to direct it and then it’s infectious,” said Ringel.
One of those athletes is senior captain Julien Carraha, who has now played in 53 games over three seasons at the College. The two-time All-State selection in his time at West Orange High School is now a captain for the second year in a row. After playing 51 games under Coach Nazario, it was certainly going to be an adjustment after hearing of his departure.
Carraha said when he heard coach Nazarro was stepping down after 28 years at the helm, and considering that is longer than coach Ringel has been alive, the Lions were in for a change.
“I was definitely surprised,” Carraha explained when Ringel was initially hired.
His surprise did not last long, and after being around Coach Ringel claimed “He understands soccer at a high level,” and despite not playing soccer collegiately, has “brought so much togetherness, it’s something I’ve never seen, on any team I've ever been a part of.”
When the hiring was announced across social media, there were some people in the comments questioning the College for bringing on a man with such a lack of experience. Ringel was eager to fire back at the skeptics.
“Maybe their athletic careers didn't go as well as they would have hoped but that is what we are here to fix. If they doubt my ability as a soccer player, all they have to do is look at the accolades” said Ringel.
Carraha also continued to back his new coach.
“He watches more film than anybody I think I’ve ever met,” Carraha said. “The mentality of the team was something I have not seen in my three years here”
It has only been a couple of weeks, but that was not an empty sentiment. The Lions earned a tie against an impressive Salisbury team with a goal from sophomore Joseph Lucignano in the 87th minute over the weekend.
“No matter how tough things get,” Carraha said, “we will literally fight until the last second.”
He continued to express how different things were this year, and that Ringel has enabled him and the rest of the team to play free and positive.
“This has probably been the most enjoyable two weeks of soccer I’ve played in a very very long time,” Carraha said.
However, despite the shakeup, The College is still ranked last in the NJAC preseason poll. A combination of a new interim head coach, and a plethora of departing starters have led to the Lions being doubted in conference play.
The College is hosting the Men's Soccer Classic this weekend and then will continue to ramp up with their out-of-conference. They will head to Union on Sept. 28 to take on Kean University to kick off their NJAC schedule.
With that being said, both Ringel and Carraha feel like they aren’t just playing with house money. Coach Ringel’s goals include finishing the season over .500, making and winning the NJAC tournament, and most importantly, building a culture within the program.
“[I want] to be proud of what we did this year,” Ringel said.
