By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

The “Getting to Know” series is designed to help the community learn more about the coaches and administrators that are guiding today’s Portage County student-athletes to prepare them to be tomorrow’s leaders.

Today, we get to know Aurora girls soccer head coach Domenica McClintock, who is in her 11th season as a girls soccer coach and fourth leading the Greenmen.

Q: What school did you attend?

A: St. Barnabas Elementary (Northfield, Ohio); Trinity High School and Nordonia High School.

Q: What year did you graduate from high school?

A: Nordonia High School, Class of 1998.

Q: College and graduation year? Play sports?

A: Malone University, Class of 2002. Played all four years for the women’s soccer program and was team captain. West Virginia University (2004).

Q: College degree?

A: BA in Community Health Education from Malone; Master’s of Public Health, Environmental Concentration from West Virginia.

Q: Current occupation?
A: Senior Environmental Safety Coordinator.

Q: What inspired you to be a coach?
A: During my time as an athlete, there were so many moments where coaches changed my perspective, taught me life lessons and through their guidance within the sport, helped me grow and shaped me into who I am today. Those coaches taught me discipline, respect and commitment. Ultimately, those experiences gave me the opportunity to play in college and on scholarship. This experience influenced my decision to want to provide student-athletes with similar experiences. I wanted to give back to the sport that gave me so much.

Q: What makes being a coach at Aurora special to you?
A: I have the opportunity to support the growth and development of players in life through sport within the community I live.

Q: Who was your biggest influence/mentor?

A: There are several people who have influenced me during my coaching career. Marc Street, Sean McNamara and Todd Clark. These three coaches have all given me nuggets of information that I use all the time when I coach. From their style of coaching to their integrity as people. I simply cannot thank them enough.

Q: Funny story from your playing days that people would not believe?

A: We once forgot the bag of uniforms at the university when traveling to an out-of-state game and had to tape numbers onto the back of our T-shirts to play.

Q: Funny story from your coaching career that people would not believe?
A: That I do not like to be wet or cold, even after playing in it the bulk of my life.

Q: Favorite TV show?

A: Golden Girls.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: You’ve Got Mail.

Q: Favorite musical artist?

A: I appreciate so many genres of music, but my go to would be Dean Martin or George Strait.

Q: Favorite food/meal?
A: Chicken marsala or chicken paprikas.

Q: Best vacation?

A: The drive across the country with my husband, Josh, and my sons to Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks.

Q: Favorite motto or quote?

A: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. (Robert Frost).

Q: Describe your coaching philosophy.

A: An athlete can make an impression on a coach that lasts forever. And a coach can make a long-lasting impression on an athlete. My philosophy of coaching is one that encompasses the whole athlete. Player development is not solely based on physical skill. A player has a magnitude of skill-sets that are transferable to the game and life. Fostering these skill-sets not only supports growth and development as athletes, but more importantly as people. My philosophy supports developing players into people who know how to exhibit respect for others, helping them grow into accountable contributors to a cause bigger than themselves.

Q: What does it mean to you to be a Greenmen student-athlete?

A: Greenmen Nation is made up of some of the finest young men and women. To be a Greenmen student-athlete, it gives one a sense of pride. They serve as leaders and role models to the youth. They put their best foot forward always — both on and off the field.

Q: Favorite restaraunt?

A: Cafe Toscano.

Q: Favorite teacher from high school?
A: Mr. Popelka, my biology teacher. It was his class that first led me toward the love of the sciences.

Q: Advice you would give the younger version of yourself?

A: Enjoy the journey and slow down. Take in and experience every moment.

Q: Favorite coach from your playing days?

A: Coach Sean McNamara from the Cleveland Cobras. He taught me so much about the game how the game essentially prepared me for life. Being part of his club taught me the importance of respect, commitment, hard work and perseverance.

Also, Todd Clark, at Malone University. I learned how to lead with his guidance and was able to reach some of my greatest moments within the game.

Q: Shoutout to former teammates.

A: Sara (Price) Renard, Megan Young, Erin Conrad, Aubby Rosado, Laurie Nichols, Megan McNeely. I know I have not captured all of my teammates, but honestly, I had the opportunity to play with some of the best teammates a player could ask for.