Lincoln grad to coach Manor College’s men’s soccer team

Manor College men’s soccer team has promoted longtime assistant coach John Dempster (Manor class of ‘96) to the lead role.

Dempster, a 10-year veteran of the sidelines at 700 Fox Chase Road, has seen the soccer program in its highs and lows, but will take the clipboard for the first time as the Blue Jays’ coach.

In 2004, Dempster and colleague William Snyder, received league Coach of the Year honors as their team went 13-2 and lost in penalty kicks of the Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association’s championship game.  Continuing the success in 2005, Manor achieved a 16-1-2 record, back to back EPCC league titles and a 2-1 victory in the state championship game.

After a brief revamping, the squad returned to blow away the competition in 2006 and gained its third league banner in as many years.  This most recent momentum would peak in 2007 with another PCAA state title.

These successes saw a transition for all Manor athletics as the school joined the National Junior College Athletic Association.  Men’s soccer would pick up play in the governing body’s nineteenth region and find division III status.

Facing new teams from Delaware, New Jersey, and Eastern Pennsylvania has yet to catch on for the Blue Jays as the team has sported sub-.500 records the past two seasons.

Dempster, however, looks to be the mainstay that will help pull the program back to its former glories.  Being recognized as the most consistent face in the men’s soccer program since its inception in 1990, the former Blue Jay co-captain looks to add more banners to the rafters in Mother of Perpetual Help Hall as the newly named coach.

In fact, Dempster led Manor athletics to its second state championship ever as a college.  A goaltender for the Blue Jays in 1994 and 1995, Dempster learned firsthand what it was like to be a successful Manor College student, athlete and graduate.

Coming to Manor from Mayfair’s Lincoln High School, and having exposure to nearly every aspect of Manor College men’s soccer, Dempster will ultimately look to build success on what he knows.  Grounding his recruiting pitch in the successes of former Manor squads, and highlighting the academic offerings of America’s Premiere Two-Year Catholic College, the skies are definitely looking blue as the green grass of the fall 2010 season is only months around the corner.

-JJ Anthony, Sports Information Assistant for Manor College

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