Women's Soccer | 11/24/2020 8:59:00 AM
Molly Romano enters her second season as head coach of the St. John Fisher College women's soccer team in 2020-21. In her first year at the helm, Romano led the Cardinals to their first Empire 8 Regular Season Championship in program history. Fisher went 4-0-3 in Empire 8 play, which included the team's first win over league for Nazareth in nearly 30 years.
On the sidelines, Romano has tallied over a decade of experience at the collegiate and scholastic levels. She spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons as an assistant at former E8 institution Rochester Institute of Technology, where she helped lead the Tigers to a berth in the 2018 NCAA Division III Tournament. At the high school level, she was an assistant coach for Pittsford Sutherland from 2013-16 and the head coach of Beaver Country Day School from 2010-13. Romano was also an assistant women’s soccer coach at Bentley University in 2009 and at Lasell College in 2008.
Romano was an offensive threat during her playing career at John Carroll University. She earned All-Ohio Athletic Conference, All-Academic honors and secured the team’s offensive MVP in 2003 and 2004. Romano graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in middle childhood education from John Carroll in 2005.
Molly Romano - Today's Leaders
Coach/Administrator Name: Molly Romano
School: St. John Fisher College
Title: Head Women's Soccer Coach
Year at Current Institution: Second season
College Attended/Class Year: John Carroll University '05 (undergraduate), Boston College '07 (graduate)
Playing Career (if any, collegiately or professionally): John Carroll Soccer 2001-04, Western Mass Pioneers, W-League – 2008, Bay State Select, WPSL - 2009
Favorite Professional Athlete: Shalane Flanagan
Favorite Movie: Pride and Prejudice
Favorite TV Show: Schitt’s Creek
Last TV Show You Binge Watched: Ted Lasso
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Cookies and Cream
Recent Community Service Projects Your Teams or Departments Have Worked On:
Our team volunteered at the 2020 New York State Winter Special Olympics.
How Does The Empire 8 Stand Out Among Other Conferences:
The Empire 8 is comprised of talented and dedicated coaches. The teams in our conference are competitive, which inspires us to improve each year. In addition to athletics, the Empire 8 creates an environment that enables our students to excel in the classroom.
Favorite Athletic Memory from Your Time as a Player in College (if applicable):
Winning the OAC championship and playing in the NCAA tournament during my first year at John Carroll.
Favorite Memory as a Coach/Administrator at St. John Fisher:
The development of our team during my first season that concluded with us being the regular season conference champions.
Who Is Your Biggest Mentor and Why:
My parents. From an early age, they instilled the importance of hard work, dedication, and always giving your best.
Most Rewarding Aspect of Being a Coach/Administrator
I have coached at a variety of different levels and it has always been rewarding to connect with players both on and off the field. It is also incredibly rewarding to support players on their journey to achieving their athletic and academic goals.
What Type of Leader Are You:
I am a thoughtful coach who leads by example and challenges players to be the best version of themselves both on and off the field. My leadership style involves being consistent, creating a positive playing environment, communicating with our players, and focusing on the development of each player on our team.
What Are Some Positive Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic You Have Experienced?
It has certainly been a challenging year but a positive effect has been being able to spend more time with my husband and our three children. For our team, it has also given us time to evaluate where we are as program, and the steps we need to take in order to achieve our goals.
How Have You Had to Adjust as a Coach or Administrator to the Pandemic?
We have had to do so many things differently, but COVID-19 has provided an opportunity for us to become innovative. Our coaching staff has created new ways to communicate with recruits, run training sessions, and connect with our players.
One Thing Most People Do Not Know About You:
I like to play the piano.
Advice for First-Year Student-Athletes:
The first year of balancing college athletics and academics can be challenging. I encourage my first-year student athletes to have a support system (coaches, family, teammates, professors, counselors, etc.) that they can go to when they need help.
Advice for Graduating Student-Athletes:
Congrats! Explore new opportunities and use the skills you learned during your time as an athlete – work hard, set goals for yourself, be a good teammate/co-worker, be committed, have a strong support system, and enjoy what you do!
The Empire 8 Conference's “Today’s Leaders Compete Here” Series features a coach or administrator from one of its member institutions who exemplifies leadership.
ABOUT THE EMPIRE 8 CONFERENCE
The members of the Empire 8 Conference are committed first and foremost to the pursuit of academic excellence and the league is regarded as an outstanding NCAA Division III conference. The membership has distinguished itself among its peer group for its quality institutions, spirited and sportsmanlike competition, outstanding services and highly ethical policies and practices. Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the E8. For more on the Empire 8 visit
www.empire8.com.
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