Each soccer coach feels the stress to win.
The extent of stress can fluctuate relying on the state of affairs. Some really feel the necessity to win this season as a result of they’ve been engaged on a rebuilding venture that’s not on time for years.
Some really feel the necessity to win this season as a result of they had been surprisingly poor final season. Some really feel the necessity to not solely win, however win huge each season as a result of that is what they count on from an elite program.
With the 12-team playoffs approaching, the stress to win this season could turn out to be much less or extra intense in some circumstances.
Some could really feel much less stress from not having to complete within the high 4 to safe a spot within the match. Some could really feel extra stress as a result of the expanded subject will increase the expectations of incomes a CFP.
Completely different coaches will really feel totally different pressures relying on the standing of this system and the stage of their tenure.
Listed below are the faculty soccer coaches with essentially the most stress in 2024.
Ryan Day (Ohio State)
Okay, so Day’s job this 12 months is not totally in jeopardy. In spite of everything, his file with the Buckeyes was 56-8. However he does have one of the annoying jobs in faculty soccer, not to mention a three-game shedding streak towards Michigan.
Ohio State adopted up its current loss to the Wolverines with an intermittent loss to Missouri within the Cotton Bowl and completed seventh within the ultimate CFP rankings, its lowest rating since Day.
The Buckeyes are both No. 1 or No. 2 in most preseason rankings, so the stress is on Day to not solely beat Michigan however make a deep run within the CFP (ideally a nationwide championship ).
Will Corridor, Miss Southern
Expectations aren’t as excessive for the Golden Eagles as they’re for Ohio State, however after going 7-6 in 2022 with two 3-9 information, Corridor is confronted with constructing a workforce that performs properly. stress.
Mario Cristobal, Miami
Cristobal is getting into his third season, however expectations are rising for the Hurricanes from a extremely regarded recruiting and switch class. Cristobal’s second unit improved from 5-7 to 7-6 however fell wanting the place it ought to have been final season.
Miami seemed like it might enhance to 5-0 as they tried to expire the clock whereas taking a 20-17 lead and holding the ball in Georgia Tech territory within the ultimate minute. However as an alternative of taking a knee, they ran the ball and misplaced a fumble on third down, giving the Yellow Jackets 74 yards and the profitable landing in 24 seconds.
The Canes by no means absolutely recovered and ended up shedding 4 of their previous 5 video games, elevating questions on whether or not their head coach was getting in the best way of what ought to have been a greater file.
Clark Lee, Vanderbilt
The Commodores’ historically modest expectations might solely maintain the stress low for thus lengthy. Lea is 2-10, 5-7 and 2-10, and whereas Vanderbilt is present process a $300 million athletic improve beginning in 2024, expectations could also be much less modest.
Billy Napier (Florida)
The Gators look to turn out to be a constant SEC title contender, with Texas and Oklahoma State getting deeper into the division as Napier’s first two groups completed 6-7 and 5-7 , Napier’s third workforce is beneath plenty of stress.
Mr. Sitak, Brigham Younger College
Sitaki is the third winningest coach in Cougars historical past with a 61-41 file in eight seasons. However after BYU was ranked No. 11 within the 2020 AP playoff ballot with an 11-1 file, Sitaki’s workforce has had fewer wins (10-3, 8-5) for the third consecutive season. Loss, 5 wins, 7 losses). The general success of his tenure stays an asset, however there may be stress to start out the upward development once more.
Dave Aranda, Baylor
Simply three years in the past, the Bears went 12-2 and beat Ole Miss within the Sugar Bowl. However Baylor adopted that landmark season with a 6-7 file earlier than slipping to 3-9 final season. Aranda is beneath stress to make a dramatic turnaround in 2024.
Sam Pittman, Arkansas
Pittman went 3-7 in his first season in 2020, then improved the Razorbacks to 9-4 in his second season. However over the previous two years, as Texas and Oregon dropped the workforce to 7-6 and 4-8, Pittman has felt at the very least as a lot stress as Napier felt at Florida State.