Thursday, September 5, 1991
Behrend gets new
Men's soccer team led
by Grace
by Ron Doin
The Collegian
Behrend College has added a
new member to its coaching
staff. Dennis Grace is the new
men's soccer and baseball coach.
Notre Dame University was his
last coaching position.
As head coach at Notre Dame,
Grace's 1990 Division I soccer
squad was ranked in the top 10 of
the nation. Grace was runner-up
for coach of the year honors
because of this accomplishment.
He was awarded this despite
having no scholarships available
for his players.
Thirty-eight year old Coach
Grace is no stranger to the Erie
area.
He attended East High School
and lettered in football, baseball,
and wrestling, while also playing
soccer. Following high school,
he attended Behrend and played
both soccer and baseball.
Grace then went on to Indiana
University (Bloomington) and
finished his undergraduate work.
His coaching credentials speak
for themselves. After receiving a
bachelor's degree in Physical
Education, Grace coached high
school soccer in the Bloomington
Indiana area.
While coaching he continued
to work on his Masters degree in
Exercise Physiology. He next
became an assistant soccer coach
at Indiana University.
Following Indiana, Grace
coached at Tri-State University
(NAIA), Clemson University,
Indiana State University,
Bloomsburg State University and
finally ended up at Notre Dame
University.
But with the arrival of a new
Athletic Director at Notre Dame,
Grace headed for more peaceful
surroundings and ended up where
he had started college.
Coach Grace is pleased with
this year's team so far. They
have six returning players and
have added fourteen' more.
"I don't consider myself
magical," he explains, "I just
believe in hard work. Give me
hard-working kids and I'll show
on 2 Basketball
Tournament!!
Erie Hall, September 14th.
Sponsored by Women's
Basketball. Registration
forms available in the
Athletic Office.
you how good we can be."
Grace sees I.U.P. and Fredonia
as tough opponents for this year's
squad.
Beyond all of this, Grace still
strives for academic importance.
"Academics come first," he
emphasizes, "soccer and baseball
arc just icing on the cake."
Grace loves the college
atmosphere. "I'll be in college
for fifty years, and I think it's
great," he says.
The most influential people in
his life have been the Athletic
Director at Behrend, Herb Lauffer,
his former coach at Indiana, Jerry
Yeagley; and Indiana's head
basketball coach and legend, the
"General" Robert Montgomery
Knight.
"Herb Lauffcr is a great
people person," Grace claims,
"the guy is magic with alumni."
Grace has gotten some of his
coaching philosophy from these
men.
"Give as much as you can
give, ask as much as you can
possible ask, and somehow ask
for a little bit more," he always
says.
Grace thinks that this year's
team will be fun to watch. They
have already won their first pre
season game 3-1 over Penn State
Behrend Alumni.
His goal for this year is to
just play hard. "I just want to
say that we gave it our all and
played our best," Grace states, "if
we lose and play hard, I'm
happy."
He plans to recruit heavily in
the off-season in PA., N.Y.,
N.J., and OH.
"Bchrend is not a hard product
to sell," Grace believes, "it's a
great product."
Grace is also very dedicated to
his two sons Christopher and
Michael (3 and 4).
When asked about his
interests outside of coaching, his
answer is simple.
"My kids, period."
With Coach Dennis Graces'
outgoing personality and positive
attitude, Behrend athletics have
nowhere to go but up.
►ports
coach and coordinator
Wittman takes over Intramurals
MEM=
The Collegian
On August I, the Penn State
Behrend Student Services
Department and the Athletic
Department welcomed Robert
Wittman as the new Intramural
Coordinator.
A 1987 graduate of Penn State
University, Wittman worked as
the Assistant Director in the
Intramural Office at State
College.
After finishing his
undergraduate work, Wittman
entered the Penn State graduate
program and spent time teaching
physical education classes, as
well as coaching high school
basketball.
In addition to his vast
intramural experience, Wittman
has brought to Behrend some
fresh ideas and goals.
"Cross country running,
swimming, pingpong, tennis,
and bowling were tried in the
past, but didn't last," said
Wittman. "I would like to try
and bring them back."
In addition to the Provost's
Golf Tournament, Wittman is
looking forward to designing
another golf tournament. He
would also like to institute
squash, handball, and racquetball
tournaments.
"It is really tough with the
more obscure sports due to the
small population here on
campus, but I will still offer
them," adds Wittman.
o try and get everyone
involved, Wittman is looking to
implement a "point system" in
the next year or two.
"There would be three
divisions, and at the end of the
Do You Like To Take Pictures?
Would You Like To Meet Michael Jordan?
Then Stop By The Collegian Office And Talk
To Greg Geibel To Find 01l
ut ow You Can
Join The Fun!!
P.S. I'm Not Sure About That Michael
Jordan Part, But See What I Can Do.
Ping-pong anyone? New Intramural
Coordinator, Rob Wittman, plans on
bringing many new sports and weekend
activities to Behrend.
year a trophy would be given for
the winners in each different
division," explains Wittman.
Wittman has yet to work out
further details.
Wittman is also offering more
weekend programming, such as
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Page 11
Greg Geibel/The Collegian
the proposed swimming, cross
country running, and pingpong.
"Intramurals is a great way to
get students, faculty, and staff
involved. Plus, you can get
plenty of exercise and release
tension," says Wittman.