BUFFALO, NY - University at Buffalo women’s soccer head coach Jean A. Tassy, who has guided the Bulls soccer fortunes for the past 12 years, has announced that he will retire at the end of the 2007 season to spend more time with his family. The 2000 Mid-American Conference Coach of the Year has a record of 106-97-20 at the helm of the women’s soccer program at UB.
“It has been an honor to serve this team and this University for the past 12 years. At the conclusion of the season my wife and I are moving to Charlotte to be closer to our family because we believe this is what God wants us to do as we begin a new chapter in our lives,” said Tassy. “I will never forget the time that I have spent here as I’ve gained a lifetime of memories. However, right now my focus is the 2007 season and finishing strong in my final year and reaching our goal of another MAC championship.”
Tassy has led the women’s soccer program at UB since 1995 and is currently the second-longest tenured coach at UB. He is a well-known name in the Western New York soccer community as he has also coached the men’s programs at Niagara and Buffalo State, where he also starred as a collegian, before joining UB in 1995.
“Coach Tassy is one of the finest individuals that I know and he will be missed as a leader and colleague,” said Director of Athletics Warde Manuel. “Coach Tassy has not only led his teams to success on the field, but off the field, both academically and in terms of community outreach, our women’s soccer team has always excelled. It is no doubt a reflection of the kind of person Coach Tassy is and the kind of student-athlete he has recruited.”
Tassy’s most successful season at Buffalo was in 2000 when he led the team to the MAC Regular Season Title, marking the only Mid-American Conference championship to date at UB. The Bulls finished with a 16-6-1 record during that season and were given the number one seed in the conference tournament. After defeating Toledo in the first round of the MAC Tournament, UB’s magical season came to an end with a 2-0 loss to Miami (OH). During UB’s first two year’s in the MAC, Tassy helped lead the team to records of 10-6-2 and 13-5-1, respectively.
To date in his UB coaching career, Tassy has coached 19 All-MAC selections, including 10 on the All-MAC First Team since 1998. Among the players that Tassy has coached is Paula Listrani, who currently holds career records for goals (46), assists (24) and points (116).
In 2003, Tassy and the UB women’s soccer team were awarded the NCAA Sportmanship Award following their actions on Nov. 5, 2002. During the first round of the Mid-American Conference Tournament, UB was playing at Bowling Green when Falcon player Leslie Dawley collapsed and died on the field. The game was halted and resumed the next day with the Falcons winning, 2-1. Tassy, his coaching staff and players chose to warm up on an a different practice field so they did not disturb the area where Dawley had collapsed just one day earlier. During introductions, each UB player handed a single yellow rose to their counterpart, exchanging hugs and tears. Finally, the teams joined at the middle of the field for a moment of silence.
In an excerpt from the nomination letter, Bowling Green representatives wrote, “Everyone that was involved with the events of November 5th and 6th at Bowling Green State University will not soon forget the character and sportsmanship that was displayed by the University at Buffalo women’s soccer team and coaching staff. It is that type of character and sportsmanship that makes collegiate athletics so great. These acts of compassion by the Buffalo players and coaching staff were not lost on the more than 700 fans that filled the stands that day and a number of them commented that they had never witnessed such sportsmanship.”
In the classroom, Tassy has helped his team maintain at least a 3.0 GPA during 15 of the last 18 semesters, dating back to the fall of 1998. The women’s soccer team has not had a GPA under 3.0 since 2001. In the last seven semesters, 131 women’s soccer players have been named UB Scholar Athletes.
“I have been very proud of the accomplishments our student-athletes have had in the classroom,” said Tassy. “I have always tried to recruit the complete student-athlete, someone who is successful on the field and in the classroom, as well as someone who represents our University well in the community. My time at UB, and, indeed my guiding force in life comes from Colossians 3:23, 24: ?Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.’ ”
A search for Tassy’s replacement will commence after the 2007 season has concluded.
