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09/30/2016 12:00 AMRocco Christiana coached the North Haven girls’ soccer JV team last fall and, when the head coaching position opened up for the varsity squad this year, Rocco jumped at the opportunity. Rocco believes there’s plenty of untapped soccer potential throughout the town and now he’s establishing a foundation for the Indians to once again be successful. So far, things are going pretty well as North Haven has already matched last season’s win total by quickly putting two victories in the books.
“I’m trying to build a team of respect. We’re all one family and we’ve got to build it with love and hard work. I always tell the girls that if you work hard, stay focused, and train well, eventually, success will come,” says Rocco. “We all coach together. I want to step down and work with the middle school and I want to volunteer with the town’s youth league. Our program begins young, so you have to have an open line of communication to the JV and varsity teams, so when they come up to the high school, it’s a smooth transition and they already know the coaches.”
Rocco started coaching when his daughter played in the Coginchaug Soccer Club (CSC) in Durham. After earning his certifications, Rocco began running clinics and seminars and he eventually built his daughter’s team into a top-tier squad that recorded an undefeated season. Since then, Rocco has moved up the ranks. Word started spreading of Rocco’s success with the CSC and Middletown Youth Soccer and that helped him land him a spot with Hamden’s Premier soccer program, The Connecticut Football Club.
“The girls I coach there, I develop to move up to the national level where college coaches look at them and scout them,” says Rocco. “Coaching for me is very serious. I work with the girls and focus on youth development.”
After going 10-4 coaching a middle school team in Durham, Rocco had the chance to join North Haven girls’ soccer as its JV coach last year. It was an easy decision for Rocco to hop aboard.
“I’ve always been a head coach, but wanted to get to the varsity level. I’m a student of the game and work 365 days per year,” says Rocco. “That opportunity was a good stepping stone to learn the system and work with [former Head Coach Brittany Collard]. It just so happened that the next year, the position became available and I applied, got it, and brought in my own staff.”
North Haven’s new Athletic Director Steve Blumenthal wasn’t in that position at the time and so he didn’t play a part in Rocco’s hiring process, but as someone with a vast soccer background, Blumenthal feels confident that Rocco has what it takes to turn the team around.
“When I heard he was hired, I was happy about that. I definitely think he brings an enthusiasm that’s been missing to the program. He brings passion that I think needs to be emphasized and brought back,” says Blumenthal. “He definitely understands the game. From my conversations with him, he has a strong background on coaching. We’re looking for some great things knowing he’s developing a program.”
Having been the JV coach a year ago, Rocco’s already developed a nice rapport with many of the girls on the varsity squad. As a result, Rocco and company are a step ahead in terms of their camaraderie and communication, and that’s showing up in the standings as the Indians have defeated Lyman Hall and Hamden and tied Amity thus far this year.
“I’m a technical coach. I focus on the tactical, psychosocial, and physical aspects of the game. You need that balance and I bring that to the program. I want to bring structure from the middle school and up, so everybody is on the same page,” says Rocco. “It’s not going to be a quick fix. We’re going to have to develop it over a few years, but after a few bad seasons we’re already [2-3-1] this year. I’m hoping to get it up to .500 this season and the girls are training really well. They’re moving in the right direction, their skills are getting better, and, as a team, we’re moving in a positive direction.”
Rocco feels ecstatic about the early season support he and his team has received from the North Haven community. That type of backing can only help Rocco as he tries to build the Indians into a program that not only wins its fair share of games, but also produces players with the potential to compete in college.
“The support system has been phenomenal. I’m blessed. They’re the greatest parents in the world,” says Rocco. “My goal at North Haven is to open doors for great athletes. I want to train them and let colleges look at them. My goal is to hopefully get some of the college coaches to come to North Haven to watch them and maybe get them to the next level.”