The Lethbridge College soccer teams are losing the services of an award-winning head coach, but have tagged another award-winner as his replacement.
Mike Racz, who had been head coach of both the men’s and women’s teams, is stepping down to focus on career commitments and in his place, the Kodiaks bring back former women’s coach Sean Carey to lead both programs. Carey had been head coach of the women’s team for two seasons in 2009-10 and 2010-11.
“We’re very excited to have Sean come in and continue what Mike started with the culture of the program,” says Todd Caughlin, manager of Kodiaks Athletics. “The experience he brings, his calmness and his passion for the game is everything we want in a Kodiaks coach.”
Carey has a long history of coaching soccer at all levels in southern Alberta and made a lasting impression during his first tenure with the Kodiaks, having won the ACAC south division women’s coach of the year award in 2010-11. He pulled double-duty as men’s and women’s coach for the Alberta Major Soccer League’s Lethbridge FC clubs in 2014 and 2015, winning the men’s regular season title in 2014. Most recently, he has spent each of the past two seasons as an assistant coach with the University of Lethbridge’s men’s team.
“It’s very exciting, and there’s a lot of good memories from my two years here,” says Carey. “There’s a solid foundation here with the soccer program. It’s come a long way in the last few years and it makes it really appealing. It’s going to be fun and I’m relishing it.”
Racz had been a fixture at the college for eight years, first as an assistant coach with both men’s and women’s soccer teams, then as the head coach of the women’s team for five seasons from 2012-16. He doubled his workload, adding the men’s head coaching duties in each of the last two years.
“Mike was the epitome of what we were trying to do in changing the culture around Kodiaks Athletics and establish ourselves as a successful college-level program,” says Caughlin. “I want to truly thank him for his commitment and dedication. The student-athletes benefitted from having him lead them.”
Among his accomplishments, Racz was named ACAC south division women’s coach of the year in 2013-14 and led the men’s team to an ACAC silver medal in 2015-16.
“There have been so many people who have helped me along the way,” says Racz. “The experience has just been incredible and is something I will keep for the rest of my life. One of the things I’ll really remember is how many wonderful athletes have come through who I got to interact with and see grow up.”
Carey now begins the process of recruiting and building the roster for next season. The Kodiaks will host a pair of identification camps in April for prospective players, with the men’s session on April 1 and the women’s camp on April 2.