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sports
'Bulldog' named
soccer coach
By Stephine
Michrina
On-line Forty-Niner
If Peter Reynaud,
the new head coach for the women's soccer team, is asked where
he comes from, he is likely to chuckle and follow up by listing
the countries that explain his mixed accent.
"I'm part
English, part Brazilian and I've played soccer in Portugal
and Holland," Reynaud said.
The new coach joined
Long Beach State's women's soccer team after 19 years of coaching.
Reynaud began his
career at Sonoma State where he took the team to a league
title and a NCAA Tournament appearance. The Cal State Hayward
graduate went on to coach the Golden Bears at UC Berkley where
he led the team to a 17-3-1 record and another NCAA Tournament
appearance.
Most recently,
Reynaud took the Fresno State Bulldogs to the 1999 NCAA playoffs.
As for LBSU, "My
goal is to eventually go to the NCAA," Reynaud said.
If taking three
teams to the NCAA Tournament is not proof enough of Reynaud's
success, then perhaps his awards are. Reynaud was named the
NCAC Coach of the Year four times and NCAA Division II National
Coach of the year in 1990.
"I'm focused
on getting the team organized and getting values established,"
Reynaud said.
He also said he wants the team to become familiar with the
types of drills he runs.
"To start
with, I'm going to get to know every player on the team as
best as I can get to know them," he said.
Bill Shumard, director
of athletics referred to Reynaud's extensive experience in
a recent press release.
"Being able
to attract a coach with Peter's ability and experience speaks
volumes for our program here at Long Beach State," he
said. "Peter's reputation and recruiting abilities should
have an immediate impact on the program and we are confident
that he can bring us to a position of national prominence
in the future."
Reynaud will live
in the area with his wife and 18-year old daughter, who coincidentally
is not a soccer player. She is a swimmer. His wife and daughter
will stay in Fresno until the end of spring when his daughter
graduates high school and he and his wife will purchase a
house. Reynaud also has a 24-year old son who will remain
in Fresno.
Beyond the soccer
field, Reynaud spends his time sailing.
"My plans
are to purchase a boat," he said. The new coach also
likes to rebuild new homes.
The 2001 women's
soccer team will practice together for the first time Monday
and will start its season with its first game in the fall.
"I know that
(LBSU) is a university that soccerwise can win." Reynaud
said.
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