Each soccer coach feels strain to win.
The diploma of strain can differ relying on the circumstances. Some really feel a must win this season as a result of they’re multi-years right into a rebuilding challenge that’s delayed.
Some really feel a must win this season as a result of they’d an unexpectedly dangerous season final season. And a few really feel a must not simply win however to win huge each season as a result of that’s the expectation for his or her elite program.
The strain to win this season is likely to be much less or higher in some circumstances with the arrival of the 12-team playoff area.
Some would possibly really feel much less strain at not having to complete within the high 4 to win a berth within the championship event. Some would possibly really feel extra strain as a result of the expanded area will increase the expectation of constructing the CFP.
Totally different coaches really feel totally different pressures relying on the standing of this system and the stage of their tenures.
Right here’s a have a look at the faculty soccer coaches underneath essentially the most strain in 2024.
Ryan Day, Ohio State
OK, so Day’s job isn’t precisely on the road this yr. In spite of everything, his document with the Buckeyes is 56-8. However he does have one of the vital pressure-packed jobs in faculty soccer, to not point out a three-game shedding streak in opposition to Michigan.
Ohio State adopted its newest loss to the Wolverines with a desultory loss to Missouri within the Cotton Bowl and completed No. 7 within the closing CFP rankings, its lowest end underneath Day.
Most preseason rankings have the Buckeyes both No. 1 or No. 2, so the strain is on Day to supply not solely a victory over Michigan but additionally a deep run within the CFP (and ideally a nationwide championship).
Will Corridor, Southern Miss
The expectations for the Golden Eagles aren’t almost as excessive as they’re for Ohio State, however after sandwiching a pair of 3-9 finishes round a 7-6 mark in 2022, the strain is on Corridor to supply a crew that reveals important enchancment and is an element within the Solar Belt Convention race.
Mario Cristobal, Miami
supply: Getty Photographs Cristobal is coming into his third season, however extremely regarded recruiting and switch courses have expectations for the Hurricanes on the rise. Cristobal’s second crew improved from 5-7 to 7-6, however final season fell wanting what it may have been.
Miami seemed prefer it was going to enhance to 5-0 because it tried to expire the clock whereas main 20-17 and possessing the ball in Georgia Tech territory within the closing minute. However as an alternative of kneeling out the clock, they ran the ball, misplaced a fumble on third down and allowed the Yellow Jackets to drive 74 yards in 24 seconds to attain a profitable landing.
The Canes by no means absolutely recovered and wound up shedding 4 of their final 5 video games, resulting in questions on whether or not the pinnacle coach received in the best way of what ought to have been a greater document.
Clark Lea, Vanderbilt
Jul 15, 2024; Dallas, TX, USA; Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea talking at Omni Dallas Resort. Necessary Credit score: Brett Patzke-USA TODAY Sports activities The Commodores’ historically modest expectations can solely maintain the strain low for thus lengthy. Lea has gone 2-10, 5-7 and 2-10, and with Vanderbilt within the midst of a $300 million athletic improve, the expectations is likely to be much less modest starting in 2024.
Billy Napier, Florida
Jul 17, 2024; Dallas, TX, USA; Florida head coach Billy Napier talking at Omni Dallas Resort. Necessary Credit score: Brett Patzke-USA TODAY Sports activities The Gators count on to be constant contenders for the SEC championship, and with Napier’s first two groups ending 6-7 and 5-7 and Texas and Oklahoma arriving to make the convention even deeper, there’s plenty of strain on Napier’s third crew to have a breakout season.
Kalani Sitaki, BYU
Sitaki is the third-winningest coach in Cougar historical past, going 61-41 in eight seasons. However after an 11-1 document that landed BYU at No. 11 within the AP post-season ballot in 2020, Sitaki’s groups have received fewer video games in three consecutive seasons (10-3, 8-5, 5-7). The general success of his tenure stays an asset, however there’s strain to begin trending upward once more.
Dave Aranda, Baylor
Sep 2, 2023; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears head coach Dave Aranda on the sidelines throughout the second half in opposition to the Texas State Bobcats at McLane Stadium. credit: Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports activities It was simply three years in the past that the Bears went 12-2 and beat Ole Miss within the Sugar Bowl. However Baylor adopted that milestone season with a 6-7 end earlier than sliding to 3-9 final season. The strain is on Aranda to supply a dramatic turnaround in 2024.
Sam Pittman, Arkansas
Jul 18, 2024; Dallas, TX, USA; Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman talking at Omni Dallas Resort. Necessary Credit score: Brett Patzke-USA TODAY Sports activities Pittman endured a 3-7 end in his first season in 2020 earlier than lifting the Razorbacks to a 9-4 document in his second season. However slipping to 7-6 and 4-8 the final two years—together with the arrival of Texas and OU—has Pittman feeling strain not less than as sturdy as what Napier is feeling in Florida.
