The University of Akron Athletics
USA Today Talks MLS SuperDraft With UA's Porter
January 12 | Men's Soccer
The USA Today recently did a Q&A with University of
Akron men's soccer coach Caleb
Porter to preview Thursday's Major League Soccer SuperDraft,
which is expected to include as many as seven players from the
Zips' national championship team. The draft, which will take place
in Baltimore, Md., will get underway at Noon on ESPN2.
MLS draft Q&A: Top prospects taught by
Akron's Caleb
Porter
By Roxanna Scott, USA TODAY
Five players from Akron's NCAA championship team signed Generation adidas contracts, which are guaranteed contracts for players leaving college early. USA TODAY spoke with Akron coach Caleb Porter, who is 90-13-10 with the Zips. He has coached the last two Hermann Trophy winners.
Q: Your team won the NCAA title in mid-December and shortly after you received a contract extension through 2020. Darlington Nagbe recently won the Hermann Trophy. Can you describe what the past few weeks have been like for you?
A: It has been a whirlwind. We haven't had a whole lot of time to celebrate. I'm not sure it's even fully hit me what we've been able to accomplish.
We have to move on especially when seven of your 11 starters are going to be professionals and you have five players leave early. We need to reload talent with recruiting. Initially after the championship, my efforts immediately turned to helping my players, having them evaluate their options. ... I always say the reward for good work is more work. That's kind of been the case these last several weeks.
Q: Some of the experts project Nagbe to go No. 1. What makes him a special player?
A: I think it's the combination of his incredible athleticism and pure skill. Those are two components of the game that are important. But I've never seen a player that is as athletic as he is that also possesses pure skill, creativity and soccer instincts. His talent isn't always reflected in his production. It's more the little things that he does - little touches, the change of pace, his balance, his ability to see the game. He's got a gift.
Q: Is college soccer better preparing players for professional soccer - in MLS and abroad?
A: There's certainly people that think that college soccer needs to be phased out. I don't agree with that. The top programs have proven that they can develop talent. I've always been of the opinion that if a kid isn't ready to go pro immediately, they need to be in an environment where they can develop and grow.
We kind of serve as a reserve league. We've had 11 players in the last four years that have moved on from Akron. There are several other programs that have done that well.
Q: Do you feel torn having all these guys as potential first-round picks? Do they worry about what order they'll go?
A: I think there's a lot of excitement more than anything. Of course they're kids so there's going to be anxiety about where they're going to be living, who their teammates are and who their coach is going to be.
The nice thing about the Generation adidas contracts - they already have a guaranteed contract. Of course they want to go as high as possible, but it doesn't change a whole lot in terms of the contract. ... People are like, you've lost guys; it has to be bittersweet. It's really not bittersweet because I am happy for them. They're being given the best chance to make it.
Q: What is it about your program, your coaching style that best prepares players for MLS. Does it help that you've been a player yourself?
A: It hasn't hurt that I've been there as a player. I obviously had a very short day in the sun. I only played for a couple of years with two clubs. Then I was forced to retire because I had multiple knee injuries.
I think having the experience of going through the process as a player certainly helped. ... I think what helps our players is our style of play. We play a possession-oriented style. Our focus is on playing attractive attacking soccer. Our players are on the ball a lot; they develop technically. Because we work a lot on playing collectively with our combination play, we work a lot on our movement. It's a very tactical style of play. We have a strong culture.
Q: Wake Forest set a record last year with four players drafted in the first round. You have five or six guys who could go that early. How rewarding would that be?
A: I don't think it's hit me. ... We're not just trying to win,
but we're trying to win the right way. And we're trying to grow the
sport.
For additional clippings about Akron soccer, check out these
articles:
• The Akron Experiment, SportsPress
Northwest, Jan. 11, 2011
• Bunbury Dreams in Red, White and Blue, NY
Times, Jan. 10, 2011
