Lee Flames soccer team say farewell to Fury
Taken From GoLeeFlames.com
Head coach of the men’s soccer team, Paul Fury, recently announced that he will be leaving the team for personal reasons.
While assistant coach Kwame Appiah takes charge of the team, Athletic Director Larry Carpenter, is sifting through 130 applications in search of a replacement worthy of coaching the Flames. Carpenter hopes to have a new coach by Christmas break.
“One of the most important things we look for is, ‘do they get who we are?’,” Carpenter said.
Carpenter said he and the search committee he is working with are also looking for someone who can coach at the Flames' level. The Flames play in a competitive Division II Gulf South Conference in the NCAA.
Fury has coached the Flames for six years leaving behind a team that produced three players who were put on the GSC all conference team in 2016.
“Coach Furey has shaped this team into a hard working team with essential core values to being successful on and off the field,” Team captain David Perez said.
Perez said Fury had a big influence on the players on and off the field, coaching them to be better men. Perez is sad to see Fury leave but is confident the team he is leaving behind will rise to the challenge of playing under a new coach.
Carpenter hopes to employ someone who can coach competitively, recruit and blend in with the atmosphere already set up by the team and other coaches.
“We like to hire a good coach and keep them,” Carpenter said.
With many coaches at Lee going into double digits of years with the Flames, Carpenter said it feels like he is asking someone to join his family. Therefore, he is taking the hiring process very seriously.
Carpenter hopes the change will not affect the players and expects a good 2017 season from those returning.
Both Carpenter and Perez know the men’s soccer team is in good hands with the remaining players and Appiah.
“They already posses all the skills required to be a top contender in the conference,” Perez said.
