It appears that a familiar face will no longer be seen on the Hawks’ soccer sidelines this upcoming season.
Women’s soccer Head Coach Sissi do Amor, who has held her position at the school for the past 10 years, will not be returning next season.
“The college decided to hire a full-time head coach/instructor with more qualifications,” do Amor said.
Do Amor was only a part-time employee at the college.
From winning the golden boot in the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup to leading the LPC women’s soccer team to the playoffs last season, do Amor has enjoyed a successful career both as a player and as a coach. When she got the news of the school searching for a new coach, it certainly came as a surprise.
As for whether or not she will be coaching somewhere else next season, do Amor does not know what the future holds just yet.
“I was planning on coming back until the college decided to make changes,” do Amor said. “I don’t know what my next step will be.”
Some team members believe coach do Amor was an integral part of their development as players over the years. They are saddened to hear the news of the coaching vacancy.
“I think it’s really unfair,” second-year forward Ana Celestine said. “Sissi is a tremendous coach and has done so much for all of us.”
Celestine and her teammates are frustrated and looking for answers. They want to find a way to help their coach get her job back.
“How could you let such an amazing woman go?” Celestine said. “She has changed my life and is the best coach I have ever had in my life. My teammates and I are going to do everything in our power to get Sissi back.”
The team has even began a campaign on Twitter with the hashtag #SaveSissi. Celestine says the team is currently holding meetings and plans to make t-shirts in an effort to push the school to save do Amor.
LPC Athletic Director Dyan Miller is currently attending the CCCAA (California Community College Athletic Association) conference in Los Angeles. In an email, Miller stated that the coaching search is ongoing not just for the women’s soccer head coaching job, but also the men’s basketball job.
“The hiring committees are progressing in their processes on hiring a women’s soccer, men’s basketball coach and nutrition faculty member for the Fall ’14 semester.”
Miller could not comment further on the situation and no exact date was given on when she believes the position will be filled, but Miller believes it will be soon.
Having made the playoffs two times in the past four seasons while developing some of the top scorers in the conference like Krystal Espindola and Melissa Aboud, coach Sissi do Amor has left a legacy at LPC.
Whoever is next in line for the women’s soccer head coaching job will have big shoes to fill. Do Amor arguably established the LPC women’s soccer team as the top team of all sports at the college this past decade.
