Tony Minatta accepts coaching job at Iowa State
Date: 2/29/2012
The Fort Collins Soccer Club is excited and takes pride in announcing that longtime Assistant Director of Coaching, Tony Minatta, has accepted an assistant coaching position with the Women's Soccer Program at Iowa State University!
Tony started as an Assistant Director of Coaching with the club in January 2005, where he has spent the last 7+ years helping to develop players and coaches, develop and implement programs, and learn as much as he can about youth soccer.
As a director, Tony's desire for knowledge of the game and coaching education was exceedingly high. He acquired the highest licensing available, earning both his Premier Diploma with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and his 'A' License through the United States Soccer Federation.
Tony coached a vast array of teams for Arsenal Colorado, from White to Gold and as long as the players possessed the desire to improve and be a part of the team, he loved coaching them all. One of his fondest memories was coaching the girls Blue team a couple of years ago and he affectionately referred to them as the Classic Avengers!
In his tenure with the club, Tony has helped teams excel in State Cup reaching the quarterfinals 7 times, semifinals 3 times, the finals 4 times, and has won 3 State Championships. Additionally, he has attended Far West Regionals with his team's 5 times, the most recent with the U19 Girls team in 2011 winning Regionals and advancing to Nationals, where the team reached the Champsionship game.
Tony always enjoyed working with committed players and became a member of the State Olympic Development (ODP) staff in 2008. Tony's energy, knowledge, and committment to the players was quickly recognized and he was offered a spot on the Region IV ODP staff in 2010.
One of the things that Tony was very good at, and took great pride in, was helping players achieve their dreams of playing soccer at the collegiate level. Although he played a role in many players development and collegiate careers, Tony was directly involved during their U17/U18 seasons, with 40+ players that went on to play in college.
Losing Tony will definitely be difficult for the club and we will miss his energy, passion, ability and knowledge, but with change comes opportunity!
From Tony Minatta:
To the Fort Collins Soccer Club/Arsenal Colorado,
I would like to thank the membership, the staff and the Board of Directors for all that they have done for me the past 7 years. Arsenal Colorado has given me all the support I have needed to become the coach that I am today and without every member of this club, moving on to Iowa State University would not have been possible. Through the coaching educational opportunities, ability to work with some of the best players in the country, support in working with the Colorado Olympic Development Program, Region IV Olympic Development Program and the administrative support to make everything possible, Arsenal Colorado allowed me to be on the national stage to get the experience and recognition necessary to move on to a prestigious collegiate program like Iowa State. I am very excited for this opportunity and although I will now be a Cyclone, I will always have Arsenal Colorado in my heart. I wish everyone continued success as members of one of the best clubs in the country. Arsenal Colorado is recognized nationally for its success on the field, but it is the people involved in the club from U5 to U20, the staff, the Board and the alumni that truly make it special and I am incredibly proud to have been a part of this great organization the past 32 years.