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Colleges

Saint Leo's Paris leaving for pro team

By STEVE LEE
Published December 8, 2005

ST. LEO - Two years ago, Saint Leo women's soccer coach Tony Paris declined to apply for the men's soccer vacancy at the Division II school, citing his allegiance to a program he started in 2000.

It took an offer to coach a men's professional team he is extremely familiar with to change his mind.

Paris, 50, called a team meeting Friday to inform his players of his November signing to coach Klaksvikar Itrottarfelag. Paris was player-coach for the European League Division I team in the 1970s and in 1999 coached it to league and Open Cup titles.

"It was an easy decision, as far as going abroad, but a heartbreaking one to leave the college," Paris said.

Paris, who also has been the director of coaching for the (St. Petersburg) Northeast Raiders youth program since 1999, is from London and played professionally in Europe and South Africa from 1971-79. He spent two years as a men's soccer assistant at Saint Leo before helping start the women's team.

He coached that team to a 38-57-6 in six seasons. The 2003 squad marked the first of three straight winning seasons. Paris was Sunshine State Conference coach of the year in 2003 and Casie Poyssick, a former Land O'Lakes standout, set or tied eight school records and was SSC freshman of the year.

"I probably wouldn't be where I am today if not for Saint Leo," said Paris, who will work with assistant Ged O'Connor with recruiting and administrative duties through the end of the month. "It's really going to be a sad day when I walk out of there on the 31st."

The Faroe Islands, located northwest of Scotland and between Iceland and Norway, is the site of Paris' most notable soccer achievements. Coaching F.I. Futbol Club to dual championships in 1999, he said, is a source of pride. He has remained in contact with team officials since. "There's always been conversation about me going back,,' Paris said, citing a July visit to the islands under Danish rule with his wife, Maria, in which a four-year, six-figure contract were discussed. He agreed to that deal, which he said is less than $1-million, two weeks ago.

Maria and Paris' son Jack, a freshman on the River Ridge soccer team, will stay at the family's New Port Richey home while Tony is abroad from February to October. A national search for Paris' replacement is under way and O'Connor plans to apply.

"I'll give it a shot and see what happens," O'Connor said. "I think anyone who falls in Tony's footsteps, it's going to be a tough act to follow."

[Last modified December 8, 2005, 00:50:19]