LA PLATA, Md. (June 28, 2016)—The College of Southern Maryland signed 11 players to the 2016 Men's Soccer team including, Max Bode, midfielder (Lackey High School), Paul Burton, defender (McDonough High School), Brett DeOca, defender (St. Mary's Ryken) Cory Hart, defender (Thomas Stone High School), Branden Herscher, forward (North Point High School), Andrew Knight, midfielder (Chopticon High School), Djibril Mbaye, forward (Gwynn Park High School), Jackson Meadows, midfielder (La Plata High School), Miguel Navarro, defender (Calvert High School), Bradley Reiber, defender (McDonough High School) and Kenny Santos, forward (Friendly High School).
"We are pleased with the 11 new signings—each player brings a skill-set that, along with our returners, will make CSM competitive in MDJUCO and Region XX," said Head Coach Tom Pollert who is in his first season at CSM.
Pollert served as the head boys varsity soccer coach at Barnstable High School in Hyannis, Massachusetts, for the past two seasons, engineering the program's best record in over a decade, an Old Colony League Championship and a top-20 ranking in the state.
In 2013, Pollert was the women's assistant soccer coach and goalkeeper coach at Massachusetts Maritime Academy (NCAA III) in Buzzard's Bay. Pollert's coaching career began at Franklin College (NCAA III) in Franklin, Indiana, where he served as the men's assistant coach in 1991. In 1992, he was named head men's soccer coach and led the team until 1996, posting the school's highest winning percentage in his third campaign. Pollert played soccer and graduated from Franklin College in 1991 with a bachelor's degree in sociology. He also holds a NSCAA Advanced National Coaching Diploma.
In Massachusetts and Indiana, Pollert has worked with club academies and premier boys and girls teams for the past 25 years.
Simon French of Buckinghamshire, England, has been named assistant coach.
French completed the UEFA C coaching badge at the age of 19 and began working within his community. "To advance my professional development, I traveled to America and since 2010 have coached competitive travel teams in both Maryland and Virginia, leading to various league and tournament titles," said French, who added that he has continued to work professionally in England, conducting advance center and academy sessions.
Now a student at CSM, French works for the Calvert Soccer Association running the developmental academy and working within the travel program.
"This will be my first year as assistant coach for a collegiate team and I hope to bring success to this fantastic institution while continuing my professional development," said French.
For a gallery of photos from the men's soccer signing, visit http://csmphoto.zenfolio.com/2016menssoccersign.
For more on men's soccer, visit http://athletics.csmd.edu/sports/msoc/index.
CSM Signs 11 Hawks to Men's Soccer Team, Welcomes Tom Pollert as Head Coach
Head Coach Tom Pollert, back row left, and Assistant Head Coach Simon French, back row right, join eight of the 11 players signed to the 2016 Men's Soccer team, including, seated from left, Andrew Knight of Mechanicsville, Jackson Meadows of La Plata and Paul Burton of Pomfret; and back row from left, Miguel Navarro of St. Leonard, Bradley Reiber of White Plains, Max Bode of Nanjemoy, Branden Herscher of Waldorf and Djibril Mbaye of Accokeek.
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