This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
10/27/2016 12:00 AMSoccer wasn’t always Antonyo Serrano’s favorite sport. Antonyo played basketball while growing up, but in the 6th grade, his coach suggested that he try soccer in order to improve his speed. From that point on, Antonyo became a year-round soccer player who eventually played at Morgan, where he graduated from in 2007. Now, Antonyo is back on the field for the Huskies—this time as a volunteer assistant coach.
“I liked the faster pace, the physical game play, and the bonding of the team,” says Antonyo. “I’ve loved playing soccer ever since and have a passion for the sport.”
Antonyo plays pickup soccer in Clinton and one of his friends from Old Saybrook introduced him to Ross Demay, who had recently taken over as head coach of Morgan boys’ soccer. Antonyo helped Demay coach a U-11 travel team this past spring, leading to his new role as an assistant with the Huskies.
“I coached in the youth program with him, so I know that he and I have very similar ideas and concepts, so he complements the varsity philosophy very well,” says Demay. “He brings a competitive new angle to the team. Having played college, he brings that experience and leadership, as well as new ideas and ways to do things through our hardships this year.”
As a volunteer assistant, Antonyo supports Coach Demay at practice by warming up the goalie or running drills. Although this year marks the first time that Antonyo has coached alongside Demay, it wasn’t his first time leading a team. Antonyo started volunteering with Clinton Youth Soccer by coaching a U-10 squad while he was studying health and fitness management at Mitchell College in New London. The players on that team are now juniors for the Huskies.
“I have seen them progress from where they used to be when they only wanted to have fun to being more serious, but they still have a fun mentality,” says Antonyo. “At this level, kids understand the game better, they play their position, and you see the flow of the game. When they’re older, you can see the heart and determination to win a game and work together.”
Antonyo was already familiar with some of the athletes because he had done 1-on-1 training with them. He additionally spent a lot of time helping his sister when she played. Antonyo not only volunteers his time as an assistant with the Huskies, he’s also taken on his first head coaching role with Clinton Youth Soccer’s U-13 boys’ travel team.
After becoming a varsity starter on defense halfway through his sophomore year at Morgan, Antonyo played the next two seasons and earned a spot as a captain during a senior year that saw him lead the team in goals. Antonyo went on to compete for Mitchell, where he played defense, striker, and was a backup goalie.
“Playing in college is a great feeling, but it was a little harder in the beginning because it’s a new team,” says Antonyo, who lives in Clinton with his wife Rachel and their six-month-old son Damian. “Once you got to know everyone, it’s another big family you’re part of and you have each other’s backs on and off field.”
Antonyo has experienced his share of coaching styles by playing at the youth, Premier, high school, and collegiate levels. When it comes to creating his own style, Antonyo draws from both his former coaches, plus what he’s learned through his college studies and various coaching courses.
“I use a mix of a little bit of everyone’s coaching style and try to branch off everything I’ve learned from different coaches and incorporate different styles for each player,” says Antonyo. “In a coaching class in college, we learned about working with different people and how to teach different sports. Each player is different in how you approach them.”
Being an assistant coach for the Huskies brings back many fond memories and makes Antonio “just want to jump in and play.” One of the highlights of his high school soccer career was when Morgan went undefeated and won the Shoreline Conference championship during his junior season. Antonyo sees the potential in this edition of the Huskies and knows they’re gaining valuable experience that will carry them through next year as there are no seniors on the 2016 team.
“They have a lot of heart and great potential to win, but it’s not going to be as easy as they thought it would be,” says Antonyo. “We should do well next year since there are no seniors. I want the kids I coach to have fun playing the sport and be competitive at the same time.”
Although Antonyo is striving for his teams to win games, it’s even more important to him that he helps his athletes lead well-rounded lives. Antonyo says that he’d like to be a head coach in high school or college in the future.
“I just want to coach wherever I can to make a difference in kids’ lives and keep them out of trouble,” says Antonyo. “I want them to keep their grades up so they can realize their dreams.”