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Coach Anup Kang departs after seven seasons with VIU womens soccer

May 24, 2017 | 9:17 AM

NANAIMO — After seven successful seasons Anup Kang is stepping away from the VIU womens soccer program.
 
As head coach Kang led the Mariners to two PACWEST titles and a pair of trips to the CCAA Nationals. 

He leaves the team with an all time record of 43W-13D-36L.
 
In 2016 Kang won the PACWEST Coach of the Year, and back in 2014 he was named “High Performance Coach of the Year” at the Nanaimo Sport Achievement Awards.
 
VIU’s Director of High Performance Sport Stephanie White says Kang recruited great athletes and students to the Mariners which helped propel the program forward.
 
“We’re educators first and foremost. Beyond what they did on the field he helped create a strong academic program,”said White. “In my workings with the athletes in the program they’re very committed to the university and the community.”
 
Kang’s departure leaves a void in the womens program and the search to find a new coach has already begun.
 
The coaching job has been posted with the interview process expected to start in the next couple of weeks.
 
White says the successful candidate will probably be somebody from Vancouver Island.
 
It’s her hope that some strong female candidates will apply but it will be the best person for the job who will ultimately be chosen.
 
“My word to female coaches out there who might think they’re not prepared – put your resume in. Give yourself a chance. Often young female coaches think they’re not as experienced as they need to be for these roles. But we need role models and we need females to come forward and coach. If you’ve coached at a good level within the local programs let us take a look and see if you fit the criteria that we’re looking for,” said White. 
 
Anyone interested in the coaching position with the VIU womens soccer team is available online at mariners.viu.ca.
 
Time is of the essence with the PACWEST season starting in early September, and training and exhibition matches taking place before the end of summer break.
 
The goal is to have Kang’s replacement selected by the end of June or early July.
 

dan.marshall@jpbg.ca

On twitter: @danmarshall77