My name is Kristopher Hanks and I was hired in May 2018 as the new Head Coach of the Women's Soccer program here at Wake Tech Community College. My hire was in an effort to turn this program around and that is what I intend to do through an abrupt culture change and by bringing in players like yourself. I wanted to alter the way that we look at ourselves as a team, the way the school looks at us as a team, and the way the conference looks at us as a team. We are well on our way to achieving that! I have brought my up-tempo, hard-press, always-working tactical philosophy to Wake Tech and it has paid dividends. We have broken school record after school record this year including 8 wins, a +29 goal differential, the program’s first trip to the Region Tournament, and a player who finished the season ranked in the Top-15 nationally for Goals, Assists, and Total Points. Our goals for next year include an 11-win campaign, a Top-2 seed in the conference, a Region X Championship, and a trip to Nationals.
As you may well know, we are a 2-year, Junior College just outside of beautiful Downtown Raleigh. Our school offers the reclusiveness of a campus set off in the countryside but pairs it with a proximity to the vibrant city life of Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. We are a highly acclaimed, affordable option for high school Seniors looking to ease their way into a 4-year university setting, get their General Education classes out of the way at nearly half the price of an In-State school, or work through any academic issues that may be plaguing their overarching academic or athletic goals. At just over $2,000/year for In-State students and $6,000/year for Out of State students, Wake Tech provides top-level programming for very little in return. A consortium agreement between Wake Tech and the State Schools of North Carolina ensures that any credits earned at Wake Tech are guaranteed to transfer to every state school in North Carolina! It is my aim to continue my proven track record in helping those who would like to find a spot in a four-year institution do so (playing soccer or just enjoying the experience of earning their degree). I have placed players on the Varsity teams at Shaw University, High Point University, and other schools across the country.
I would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have about what it is like to play for the team; scheduling, game travel, practices, and finances are all things to consider. Our season is split into two separate Fall and Spring sessions. Each has meaning for the other concerning conference tournament placements and the like, but they are scheduled, practiced for, and played as though they are brand new years. At the beginning of each season, the team holds a tryout. This is to ensure that we have the best possible players from across campus to help us achieve our lofty goals. If you are on the team for the season prior to the tryout you obviously have a leg up (chemistry and relationships are paramount in our family), but you are not guaranteed a place on the roster. You must be willing to continually put in the work, both on and off the field, to better yourself and help better the team. There are several groups within the team that get together outside of practice to lift, run, and do ball-work. These things can do nothing but push you forward in your soccer pursuits and strengthen the bond you have with the team.
Something I always tell my teams, "Be good to yourselves, be good to your teammates, and do your job", sums up what this team is about. You must be good to yourself in order to succeed in life; get that extra hour of sleep, eat that extra serving of vegetables, study for 30 more minutes, sprint that final 100 yards on your run. You must be good to your teammates in order to succeed on a team; watch out for them on and off the field, trust their judgment when you can and help them toward a better choice when you must, show up--to games, to practices, to workouts, whatever it may be. Finally, you must do your job; make the overlapping run even though you are tired, stay disciplined and don't chase the ball out of your zone of responsibility, play the pass when it is there, be patient. All of these things are pieces of the puzzle that is a successful season. If you can help us assemble the puzzle, you will be just fine.
I hope to hear from you, as it has been a pleasure sharing our vision with you.