By Carley Crain
@carley_crain12
Eight appearances in the NCAA tournament, seven NEWMAC championships, six NEWMAC coach of the year awards, and 22 years later, John Gibson, the former head women’s soccer coach, decided he was retiring earlier this semester.
After a long process of interviews and applications, Springfield College has announced that Kristin Cannon will be taking over as the new head women’s soccer coach. She will be just the sixth coach in program history, and will also be an assistant professor of physical education at the college.
Cannon is a 2012 graduate from Springfield and has experience coaching at both the prep school and NCAA levels.
Craig Poison, Springfield College Director of Athletics, is looking forward to having Cannon back on Alden Street.
“Dr. Cannon possesses an impressive and extensive soccer background having served in numerous capacities at a variety of levels, ranging from prep school to NCAA Division III and Division I institutions,” said Poisson in a press release from the college. “Kristin’s soccer experiences, coupled with her teaching and administrative skill sets, fit our teacher-coach model hand in glove. I look forward to having Coach Cannon on the sidelines guiding the growth and development of our young women on the pitch.”
Some institutions she has worked at include Johnson State, LIU-Brooklyn, Xavier, and Cincinnati. Before landing the job at Springfield College, Cannon was the Director of Athletics and the head girls soccer coach at Poly Prep Country Day School located in Brooklyn, N.Y.
“I am beyond thrilled to be back on Alden Street. As a proud graduate school alumna, having this opportunity to teach and coach at Springfield College is a privilege. I am eager to begin working with our student-athletes and build on the tradition of the women’s soccer program and live the Humanics philosophy every day,” said Cannon in a press release from the college.
The women’s soccer team played in the NEWMAC Championship game this past year and is looking forward to building off of that success next season with Cannon leading the way.
Photo: Springfield College Athletics