Medicine Hat minor and college soccer has its new leader.
Robert Cavicchia, hailing from Ontario, was announced Tuesday as the head coach of both Rattlers college teams as well as executive director of the Medicine Hat Soccer Association.
Cavicchia, reached via cellphone Tuesday, said he was looking forward to the new jobs.
“I am very excited for the opportunity to work with both MHC and MHSA,” he stated in a text message. “When I received the offer for the positions it was an easy decision for me. I would like to thank the hiring committee for selecting me for such an important role in Medicine Hat Soccer.”
Cavicchia is expected in town this weekend, making the whirlwind move west after a distinguished college career both on the pitch and as a coach in New York.
“Robert comes with great playing and coaching experience at the NCAA level, and we are excited to have him lead our program,” said college sport and wellness manager Terry Ballard in a press release. “Robert has a great ability to communicate and work with student athletes to become the best they can be in academics, athletics and citizenship.”
Cavicchia played from 2005-2008 at Syracuse University as a goalkeeper, where he still holds the school record for most minutes played, then got in to coaching. He’s also worked with his hometown Brampton Youth Soccer Club, Toronto’s Boost Soccer Academy and the York Jets Soccer Club, where he is still listed as academy director.
This past fall he accepted a job as assistant coach with Niagara University’s men’s team.
“Not only does Robert bring his experience as a technical director and head coach in a youth sport organization in Toronto, but he also has a strong playing and educational background in sport management,” said local association president Jeff Vangen in the press release. “Robert is a great role model for our youth, and adult athletes, and we are excited to work with him to deliver on our strategic priorities.”
The college and soccer association announced in March they had decided to go back to the model under which Jim Loughlin was coach of both men’s and women’s Rattlers teams, plus director of the minor association, for more than a decade. Loughlin left both organizations in 2017.
Since then, a handful of coaches have led the Rattlers. Travis Hyde coached both men’s and women’s teams in 2017-18, then Ian Tully (men’s) and Stephen Newton (women’s) took over this past season. Ex-Rattler Allan Siwela is the minor association’s player development coach.
