PJC hires new soccer coach

Published or Revised September 17, 2014

Paris Junior College is pleased to announce the hiring of Coach John R. Cossaboon, a native of Rochester, New York, to lead the men and women’s soccer teams. He comes to PJC after five years as head coach of the men’s soccer team at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas, and has NCAA Division I and international coaching experience in both men’s and women’s soccer. “We are excited about having Coach Cossaboon take over our soccer programs,” said PJC President, Dr. Pam Anglin. “The beginning of soccer at PJC has been good for the campus and I believe good for the future of soccer in this area and we believe Coach Cossaboon will continue the success we've seen in the program.” In his five years at Ozarks, the Eagles made the American Southwest All-Conference tournament twice. During that time, fourteen players were named All-Conference, one was named ASC Offensive Freshman of the Year, two earned NSCAA All-Region honors, two players earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America honors, six players made the ASC All-Academic Team, three players were named to the Capitol One Academic All-American program, and the program overall won the 2012 NSCAA team academic award. “I appreciate this opportunity presented to me by Dr. Pam Anglin,” said Coach Cossaboon. “I'm excited at the combination of being able to work with quality young men and women simultaneously. It's something I've done my whole life and I've missed it. The popularity of youth soccer in the area is great, too. In the past, I've reached out to help coaches and young people and I'm looking forward to making connections here.” Prior to leading the Ozarks’ men’s soccer team, he was head women’s coach at Southern Methodist University and the University of San Diego. He also served as assistant women’s coach at Gonzaga University. For each of his four seasons at SMU, the team won conference titles each of those years, and twice he was named Conference USA Coach of the Year. The Mustangs won their seventh straight regular season title in 2006, tied for 24th in a national poll, and received an at-large bid to the College Cup, their sixth straight appearance. In his first season leading SMU, they finished 22nd in the nation and won the Western Athletic Conference. In six years as head women’s coach at the University of San Diego, Cossaboon led the team to four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances (1999-2002). He also served as women’s head coach at the University of California Santa Barbara from 1995-1996. Cossaboon’s international coaching experience comes from Japan, where he coached a women’s professional league from 1993 to 1995. Prior to that he served as top assistant men’s soccer coach at Santa Clara University, head men’s coach at Cal State Hayward, and held assistant coaching jobs at Duke University and the University of North Carolina. From 1982-90, Cossaboon was director of coaching for the North Texas State Soccer Association. There he directed and trained Olympic Development players, and designed and implemented the state's coaching education program. He holds an “A” License from the United States Soccer Federation, and has been a national staff coach for the National Soccer Coaches Association of America since 1983. From 1983-85, he was a National Staff Coach for the USSF. Cossaboon has a Master of Arts degree in Physical Education from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. He also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education from the State University of New York (SUNY)-Cortland. He received his Intermediate Level Coaching Certificate from the Brazilian Football Academy in Rio de Janeiro.