Phil Wheddon has tapes and tapes of game film stacked in the corner of his new office in Manley Field House – evidence of his Syracuse women’s soccer team’s 11-20-7 record the past two seasons before he arrived.

But the tapes, like the team’s new head coach, won’t be in the office for long. Wheddon – hired March 27 – will bring the film with him when he leaves Monday to hook up with his other squad, the U.S. women’s Olympic team.

It’s part of his dual assignment for the summer: Study up on his new squad while still serving as goalie coach of the national team.

‘I’m certainly going to try to watch the majority of the last season as soon as possible,’ Wheddon said. ‘And I’ll also be watching the year before as well.’

Wheddon met his team for the first time Tuesday, explaining his philosophy, accountability both on and off the field and coaching style, a fast-paced, possession-based soccer, during breakfast at Manley.

‘It’s going to be more of a creative take on the game,’ said Amanda Arcuri, a rising senior forward who made eight starts last season. ‘A lot more possession. I think we’re ready for it. I think we’re ready for a change. We needed a change.’

The new coach has individual meetings scheduled with each of the players this week. He leaves for North Carolina Tuesday and will spend the summer with the national team: June in South Korea, July in Sweden and August in Beijing for the Olympics.

The national team punched its ticket to China with a 6-5 win over Canada Saturday in the championship round of the CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Assistant coach Robyn Pepicelli will run the team in Wheddon’s absence. Pepicelli is a holdover from the staff of former coach Pat Farmer, who accumulated a 23-41-13 record in four seasons as head coach.

When Wheddon returns from China following the Games, he’ll get to be a full-time head coach for the first time. The Basingstoke, England native has served as assistant at Division II South Connecticut State, the MLS’ NY/NJ MetroStars and now the women’s national team.

‘It’s time for me to move on and fulfill a different type of role,’ Wheddon said. ‘Being a head coach is the logical next step.’

He takes the helm of a team that hasn’t won more than three games in the Big East in a single season since 1998. Syracuse hasn’t had an overall winning record since 2003 and has qualified for the NCAA tournament twice in its 12-year existence.

‘It’s obvious that the team has underachieved,’ Wheddon said. ‘There’s a lot of talent on the team. There’s a lot more prospective talent out there as well that can benefit the team and help the team. For some reason, they haven’t achieved the goals that they could have.’

It’s Wheddon’s job to fix that, even if he’s halfway across the world. That’s where the tapes come in. Plus he has the daily phone calls and e-mails with Pepicelli. And video conferences, if need be.

Said Wheddon: ‘It’s great with modern communication that you can do those things, you know?’

ramccull@syr.edu

Published on April 15, 2008 at 12:00 pm