UT Tyler Men’s Soccer: The Process of Winning
August 24, 2009

The University of Texas at Tyler men’s soccer team reached new heights in 2008, including winning the ASC Championship and advancing to the second round of the NCAA National Championship tournament.

For eighth year head coach Kenny Jones, the 2009 season will not be so much about defending his team’s title but building on the fundamentals that it will take to do so.

“Of course we want to win the ASC Championship again, that should be any team’s goal every year. But for us, it will be more about what we have to do to get better every day so that we can win the championship again,” said Jones.

The team’s theme this season is “Focus on the Process.” “We want to take this season step-by-step, day-by-day and game-by-game,” said Jones. “If we focus on getting our young guys better, then the better they get the better we will get.

There will be plenty of young guys for the team to focus on as Jones has brought in 18 fresh faces to begin the fall. Along with the 14 returning player, the 18 new players will compete during the first weeks of the fall for 24 spots on the final roster.

Jones states “We have a lot of talent this year, but ultimately it will come down who wants to be part of this team and commit themselves to the standards we have set on the field, in the community and in the classroom. Talent alone will not win us games.”

Among those returning from last year’s championship side will be leading scorer Tony Guillen, ASC Tournament MVP Mark Oliphant and All-ASC selections Brandon Warren and Daniel Kanu.

The 2009 edition of the UT Tyler men’s soccer team will make its debut on Aug. 27 in an exhibition game at Division I Centenary (La.).

The Patriots will open their regular season on Sept. 4 at Southwestern, followed by a match-up with the team that ousted them from the National Tournament, Trinity (Tex.), on Sept. 5, also at Southwestern.

Fans will have to wait until Sept. 17 to get their first glimpse of this year’s team at home when the Patriots host Mississippi College to open the ASC portion of their schedule.

UT Tyler’s final home game of the season will take place on Oct. 25 when the Patriots host St. Thomas (Tex.) in non-conference action.

Other key matches include away tilts with 2008 ASC Tournament opponents Texas-Dallas and Ozarks (Ark.) on Oct. 29 and Oct. 31, respectively, to close out the regular season.

Jones says that after all the games are played this season there is one goal he wants to achieve more than all others. “I want to make sure that at the end of the day, I have a good relationship with my guys.”

Jones continued, “I want to have a good line of communication and I want them to know that I appreciate them and everything they bring to the team. Whether they are starter or they help the starters get better during the week, for them to know my gratitude is probably my top goal.”

While Jones has proven himself a winner on the field in his seven previous years at UT Tyler, he knows that producing winner’s off the field is every coach’s true focus.

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