Patrick Arancio has been named the new head coach for men’s soccer at Tompkins Cortland, starting with the 2019 season.

College Director of Athletics Mick McDaniel, who was the program’s original head coach from 1995 to 2005, announced the hiring. “We are so thrilled to have Coach Arancio on board as just the College’s third men’s soccer coach in the last 25 years,” said McDaniel. “Taking over a program with a strong reputation for blending local talent with other athletes from around the world, Coach Arancio knows that expectations are high and we are confident in his ability to promote and grow the Panthers Soccer legacy.”

Arancio has quality playing and coaching experience. He followed a championship-winning high school career with four years playing on the NCAA Division III level at Wells College. After earning his degree from Wells in 2012, he served as an assistant for the Express in 2013, helping develop practice and game plans. After Wells, he served two years as the lead assistant for the women’s program at Morrisville State College. While at Morrisville, he helped bring in one of the largest recruiting classes in program history and helped the Mustangs to the playoffs for the first time. Arancio also serves as head coach of the Syracuse Development Academy and holds a coaching license from the US Soccer Federation.

While at Wells, Arancio had the chance to play on the Tompkins Cortland field when the Express and Panthers would hold a preseason scrimmage. “That’s part of what attracted me to this position,” he said. “I am familiar with the area having gone to Wells, and I know the facilities here are very good, really upper echelon for a junior college.” 

While facilities are important when recruiting student-athletes, Arancio knows he has to sell the opportunity to be part of something bigger. “I’m very motivated to put forth the effort and energy to make us successful, and that’s the same thing I want in my players,” he said. “Athletic talent is obviously something I look for, but an even more important attribute is that players are willing to receive coaching. I want players who will work hard, communicate, and carry themselves the right way. The right attitude is the key.”

Arancio takes over a program that has qualified for the NJCAA playoffs 16 times in its 24-year history, including 13 times in the last 15 years. Panthers men’s soccer has won six Mid-State Athletic Conference championships in its history, producing more than 110 All-MSAC players, more than 50 All-NJCAA Region III players, and 7 NJCAA All-Americans.