Rutgers University is located in Piscataway, New Jersey. That’s a long way from Misenheimer, N.C.
It’s a trip Bob Reasso recently made when he took the dual positions of director of Athletics and men’s head soccer coach at Pfeiffer University. Officially, he is Vice President for Athletics.
Reasso, a 1973 graduate from Pfeiiffer, completed a 29-year year career coaching the Scarlet Knights. Throw in two years starting his coaching career at Nasson College in Maine, he left Division I soccer in 2009 with a combined 363-194-76 coaching record. He [show_disconnected][show_to accesslevel=’Subscriber’]took Rutgers to 13 NCAA tournament appearances, three Final Fours and six league titles.
When Reasso resigned as coach of the Scarlet Knights, Frank Giase, a sportswriter for The Star-Ledger wrote, “In New Jersey, Rutgers was king, dominating the national rankings and pumping out All-Americans on a regular basis. Thousands of fans would cram around the old Astroturf field and made it a pretty intimidating atmosphere for visiting clubs.”
When he left Rutgers he spoke about seeking out new challenges.
“I have a lot of life left in me,” he told Giase. “I want to recharge my batteries a little bit and decide what the next chapter in my life is going to be.”
He thought those challenges might be at Husson College in Maine where he became the AD in May of 2010. That lasted until April 29, 2013 when he resigned to return to his alma mater.
He didn’t find much that had changed about Pfeiffer since he left as a student. That’s OK, he coached for 29 years almost in the shadow of New York City. Actually less than 40 miles from the Big Apple, but NYC casts a big shadow.
Moving back to Misenheimer was moving home for the man who was recruited in 1969 to play for the Falcons by the late Nick Lefko from Raritan High School in Hazlet, NJ.
“I am honored, humbled and incredibly excited to be coming back to Pfeiffer University,” he said. “Pfeiffer provided the platform for all the success I have had in my career.
“The university has a great vision and I look forward to working with administration as well as our coaches, student athletes and everyone in the Pfeiffer community to make it come true.”
Rutgers is a big campus university. Pfeiffer is not.
When Reasso rolled into town for his first day at work, he had little trouble finding his way around.
“Not a lot has changed since I was here (as a student),” he said.
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