Dembiec thrives in dual coaching role

By Alex Conover
Cardinal Staff

Saint Mary’s University Women’s Soccer Coach Tony Guinn stepped down from his position two weeks before the start of the season. This left Athletic Director Nikki Fennern in a tough situation.
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Many options were discussed, but it was ultimately decided that the best person for the job was already at SMU: second-year Men’s Soccer Coach Chris Dembiec.

“Nikki and I talked, and we agreed that the best option was to use someone who already knew the girls,” said Dembiec. “I was happy to take the job; I volunteered.”

Coach Dembiec, who played soccer at Marquette and coached at the high school level, is coming off a 4-12 debut season with the men’s team last year.

“It’s clear that he’s very busy, but he views it as a challenge,” commented Connor McHugh, a freshman on the men’s team. “It just comes down to time management.”

Dembiec’s situation is not unique. There are already three other schools in the MIAC that have the same coach for both the men’s and women’s soccer teams: Bethel, Concordia-Moorhead, and Macalester.

“We just had to move some things around,” said Dembiec. “For instance, we had to reschedule a women’s game last week because I was out of town with the men’s team. There were lots a little glitches at first, but we’re all adjusting to it.”

It was perhaps most frustrating before the season even started.

“During two-a-days, I was on the field for nine hours a day,” Dembiec said. “Along with the flooding of our fields, it was a stressful pre-season.”

Even with all the conflicts, however, both teams are already starting to see results. The men’s squad opened up the non-conference schedule 2-2-0, and the women’s team is 5-1-0, outscoring their opponents 24-1 in their first four games.

“Coach has high hopes for us this season,” said Marie Allen, a freshman for the women’s team. “The men’s team, too. We’re both young squads, and we can’t wait to see where Coach can take us in the next couple of years.”