Barton Community College

Barton Community College Athletics
245 NE 30 Rd Great Bend, KS 67530

NJCAA Kansas Midwest

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Coaches

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Ousmane Camara

Ousmane “OC” Camara enters his eighth season as head women’s soccer coach, compiling an 84-36-9 overall record and 60-20-5 in the Jayhawk Conference.

Camara’s seventh year at the helm was a season to remember as the 15th ranked Cougars hoisted the Region VI/Plains District trophy for the first time in program history with a 5-4 shootout victory over 4th ranked Butler Community College earning. Barton concluded the cherished season with a 17-4-2 overall record while winning the squads third Jayhawk West title and second under Camara with a 11-2-0 league mark.

Eight different Cougars, along with Camara, collected postseason accolades. Freshman Nina Norshie became the second straight Cougar to garner First Team NJCAA All-American honors and program’s sixth All-America selection. Norshie along with seven other Cougars earned First Team, Second Team or Honorable Mention KJCCC/Region VI distinctions. Camara captured his second coaching honor since joining Barton claiming the Region VI/Central Plains Coach of the Year award.

2021 the Cougars were the Division I West Division runner ups after posting a solid .750 regular season conference record at 9-3-1, finishing behind Cowley College despite splitting the season series. The Cougars climbed to as high as 16th in the national poll as the season was cut short in the semifinals of the Region VI/Plains District Tournament to 11th ranked Butler. The result left Barton at 13-4-1 record for the 2021-22 campaign in moving Coach Camara into the top spot of all-time wins in program history.

Sophomore defender Seulgi Lee made history as the program’s first two-time NJCAA All-America selection, landing on the 1st team following her 2nd team distinction in the 2020-21 season. Lee is the program’s fifth All-America selection and the second first team selection in Camara’s six seasons.

Lee was also named to the All-KJCCC West first team and the All-Region VI twelve member squad along with Mercy Azanapo. Joining the duo on All-KJCCC West first team was Annika Gerdau while Dahein Gabrera, Francesca Martella, and Siliva Cinque all were chosen to second team.

In the classroom, Coach Camara had eleven players earn NJCAA All-Academic awards, six players on the first team with perfect 4.0 GPA and five on third team to help compile a total team GPA of 3.29.

2020-21 was a bitter feeling for Camara and his Cougars concluding the campaign as the Region VI/Plains District runner-ups. Winners in six of their final seven contests, Camara’s squad concluded the season at 12-4-1 and second best mark of 9-3-1 in the Jayhawk West standings.

On the field the Cougars’ received eight all-conference awards, to go along with, an NJCAA All-American. Freshman Seulgi Lee became Camara’s second All-America award winner during his tenure and the fourth in program history to garner NJCAA All-America status earning an NJCAA second team selection, along with her first team Jayhawk West honors. Joining Lee on the first team conference list was Kadin Stinson and Mercy Azanapo.

For the second straight year the Cougars’ led all KJCCC women’s soccer teams inside the classroom earning a 3.50 GPA, ranking 18th best in the NJCAA amongst 78 teams achieving a 3.0 or higher GPA. 13 individuals established NJCAA All-Academic accolades with four Cougars landing on the first team list posting a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Camara directed the Lady Cougars to a 9-8-0 record in 2019, third best in the KJCCC West, compiling an 8-4-0 mark against conference opponents. The blue and gold won four-of-six matches over the final three weeks of the season, leading the team to the Region VI postseason for the eighth year in a row.

In the classroom Camara’s Cougars compiled a 3.57 GPA, tops in the KJCC and fifth best in the NJCAA amongst eighty-one teams over a 3.00. Nine individuals earned NJCAA academic honors, three members attaining a first team 4.0 perfect GPA with two landing on the second team and four on the third team.

Seven Lady Cougars were honored with Jayhawk West status, including three All-Conference 1st team selections in Domenica Pena, Larissa Modesto, and Alexsandra Fernandes. The trio represented Barton on the 2nd team All-Region VI.

In 2018 the Cougars concluded the season atop the standings at 12-1-1, earning the program’s first conference title since 2008, before seeing their season end in the Plains District semifinals at 15-4-1.

Earning his first Jayhawk Conference Coach of the Year award in 2018, Camara’s Cougars received the top three conference postseason awards within their nine selections, to go along with, five Region VI accolades and a NJCAA All-American. Freshman Rayssa Neres leading all selections in not only being voted the Jayhawk’s Offensive Player of the Year and a first team All-Region VI, but becoming the program’s second ever 1st team All-American and the third overall in Cougar history after rattling the nets a nation's third best 42 times on the season. On the flip side of the field, goalkeeper Reyna Gonzalez closed out her tremendous two-year career to earn the Jayhawk’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Three seasons ago, Camara’s young Cougars vaulted into the Region VI playoffs with a four game win streak including a victory over the 20th ranked team in the country to earn the fourth seed at 6-4-2 in region play. Barton’s season came to an end at 20th ranked Johnson County in the playoffs to conclude the season at 9-6-3.

The Cougars received nine post-season awards with eight coming from the freshman class led by goalkeeper Reyna Gonzalez’s 1st team all-conference and all-region selection.

In the classroom Camara’s squad ranked 25th in the country with a 3.22 GPA with five Cougars earning All-Academic honors in achieving a 3.6 or better GPA

Following two seasons as assistant coach for both men’s and women’s soccer programs, Camara’s first season as head coach produced a 9-6-1 season and a 5-3 second place finish in the KJCCC West Division. Eight players received post season honors, four from each of the freshman and sophomore classes, being led by freshman Analia Torres’ first team selection. The Cougars also were strong academically, have four on the All-Academic team in compiling an 18th best 3.26 GPA.

A familiar face around Barton, Camara returned where his collegiate career began in 2009. Camara played one season in the Barton uniform in 2010 before continuing his academic career at Fort Hays State University earning a bachelor degree in political science in May 2013.

Camara previously coached at Thomas More Prep High School and the Hays Soccer Club before a brief stint at Western Texas College under previous Barton women’s soccer coach Shawn Uhlenhake.

Camara holds a Level 6 Diploma, the National Diploma, and the Advanced National Diploma from the NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America) coaching education system.

Born in Conakry, Guinea, Camara is multilingual five languages including English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and his native tongue Susu.

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Rafael Simmons

Rafael Simmons assists with the women's program while in his second season leading the Barton men’s soccer program, the seventh coach in Barton’s twenty-one season history.

Simmons first season on the hill guiding the men did not disappoint as the 11th ranked Cougars captured their 12th Jayhawk West crown with a conference best mark of 7-1-1 before seeing the season conclude in a heartbreaking 1-0 double overtime loss to 13th ranked Johnson County in the Region VI/Plains District Semifinals finishing the season at 14-5-1 overall.

Earning the Jayhawk West Conference Coach of the Year award in his inaugural season, Simmons’ Cougars captured two of the top three conference postseason awards within their eight KJCCC West selections and three Region VI honors. Sophomore, Kotaro Natsume led the postseason accolades earning the West Defender of the Year as the 5’6” defender from Shizuoka, Japan helped Barton post five shutouts throughout the season.

Simmons arrives to Barton from Tulsa, Oklahoma, having spent the past two years with the Tulsa Soccer Club as the Director of the Elite Clubs National League Regional League and coach of two elite teams. Simmons was also one of the assistant coaches for the semi-pro women’s team (Tulsa SC) of the Women’s Premier Soccer League, capturing the 2021 WPSL Red River Conference North title with four players drafted into the NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League). Additionally, one of Simmons’ former youth players at Tulsa SC was recently called up into the United States U14 Youth National Team Camp.

A familiar face to the KJCCC and coaching against the Cougars, Simmons was the head coach at Neosho County Community College from 2015 through the 2019 season.

On the men’s side, Simmons led the Panthers to the 2017 Jayhawk East title and a No. 5 national ranking, compiling a 57-35-3 overall record and 28-21-1 conference mark.

Taking over the women’s program in 2016 struggling to field players, Simmons revitalized the Panthers to end a 37-match winless streak across to seasons in rising to the program’s first ever national ranking in just his third season. Overall Simmons’ Lady Panthers’ record finished at 11-36-1 in conference play and 22-48-2 overall.

At Neosho, Simmons guided 28 players to All-Conference selections, 13 players to All-Region honors, and 11 players received Scholar All-American honors.

Under Simmons’ leadership, over 30 players transferred to 4-year collegiate programs in his last 3 seasons. Coach Simmons recruited top student-athletes nation-wide including players from USSDA academies, ECNL clubs, and Gatorade Players of the Year.

While at Neosho, in 2017 Simmons served as the assistant Coach for Ozarks FC in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL).

Collegiately, Simmons was a two-time All-Region selection at Crowder College, moving on to earn All-Conference honors at NAIA powerhouse Ashford University where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education and Coaching.

Simmons began his coaching career as the head varsity coach at Prince of Peace College Preparatory in Clinton, Iowa, before moving on to Dakota Wesleyan University helping the Tigers to their first winning season in ten years. Working primarily with the defenders and goalkeepers, Simmons’ defense posted twelve shutouts and conference and national player of the week honors in his two seasons. While at DWU, Simmons completed his Master of Arts in Education and Policy while holding multiple other coaching positions at different levels including Head Coach of the Dakota Alliance Soccer Club and the Dakotas Olympic Development Program (ODP).

A United Soccer Coaches Premier Diploma certified, Simmons also holds a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) B License and is currently pursuing his USSF A-Senior License.

Before coming to the United States, Simmons spent time playing in the youth academy of Bristol City FC and with the English Southern League side Bristol Manor Farm FC. During that time Simmons had the opportunity to participate in the English F.A. Youth Cup, English F.A. Cup, and the English F.A. Vase.

Native of Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janiero, Brazil, Simmons moved to Bristol, England, at ten years old before entering the United States to compete collegiately and attain his education degrees.

Fluent in both English and Portuguese, Simmons and his wife Sarah, have two sets of twins, Mikael and Mylah (age 5) and younger duo Annika and Avery (age 3).