When Fifth Former Thomas Kaplan heard that Varsity Soccer Coach Mr. Keith Cappo was coming to Haverford this fall, he only had one word in mind: excitement. Coach Cappo brings much experience to the soccer program. He has coached FC Delco and Penn Fusion. He joins Haverford after six years as the head soccer coach at Ursinus College.
After announcing he would be joining the community back in April, Director of Athletics Mr. Michael Murphy highlighted his trust and confidence in his new hire.
“In Coach Cappo, we found an experienced and accomplished soccer coach who will also fit in with Haverford’s tradition of the teacher-coach model,” Mr. Murphy said.
Having just won the Centennial Conference Coach of the Year award, Coach Cappo looks to bring that success to Haverford.
“I am extremely excited to get back in the classroom and to continue to build on Haverford’s strong tradition of success on the soccer field,” Coach Cappo said.
The hard work in practice is adding another level of intensity to the team.
“Coach Cappo has brought the leadership we needed this year. By doing more fitness post-practice, he’s really raising the level of play and the intensity has risen tremendously,” Sixth Former and captain Alexander Nekoumand said.
By raising the expectations of training, competition for places in the team has intensified. Each player wants to win just as badly as the next. The new energy has the players not only motivated but ambitious. With the Inter-Ac season quickly approaching, the team feels confident in its preparation. Coach Cappo has made it very clear that both the Inter-Ac and state titles are attainable.
The team believes that the emphasis Coach Cappo has put on working harder in practice will end up paying dividends, as that style of play is a very tiring one. No matter the result, the team’s performance won’t suffer from a lack of hard work or discipline.
He pushes us to be better every time we step out onto the pitch.
Thomas kaplan ’24
Returning players believe that he brings a winning mindset to the team while emphasizing work ethic in practice.
“Coach Cappo has made it very clear this year that he wants to bring the program back to its winning ways, and he’s demanding that each of us work harder in practice,” Kaplan said. “He pushes us to be better every time we step out onto the pitch.”
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