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 be tomorrow’s leaders.

Today, we get to know Kent Roosevelt High School girls soccer coach Samantha Spicer, who is in her first season leading the Rough Riders.

Q: What schools did you attend?

A: I attended Lincoln Elementary in Lakewood before moving to Jackson Township in fifth grade. I attended Strausser Elementary and Jackson Memorial Middle School, then graduated from Jackson High School (Class of 2011).

Q: College and graduation year?

A: The University of Akron (Class of 2017). My job while in school was intramural sports as an Intramural Supervisor and official.

Q: What is your college degree in?

A: Special Education Moderate to Intensive K-12.

Q: Current occupation?

A: Currently, I am a Behavior Therapist. I work with kids and families in homes, group homes, community settings and schools to help with any behavior that could be impeding day-to-day life.

Q: What inspired you to be a coach?

A: I actually didn’t really have any idea that I wanted to coach. I knew I wanted to go to a bigger college so playing at the collegiate level was not going to happen for me. In my freshman year of college, I attended Ohio University and after freshman year, I transferred to Akron. Once I was at Akron, my high-school coach, Frank Gagliardi, had asked if I wanted to coach the JV team in the fall of 2012. I took a chance on the opportunity and have not looked back since.

Q: What makes being a coach at Kent Roosevelt special to you?

A: Prior to my Roosevelt interview, I had interviewed at a variety of places and kind of made this interview my last. If I didn’t get the job, I was OK with not being a head coach this year. I was getting a bit discouraged after each interview; not getting the job. I kept sharing with my family that I just need someone to take a chance on me. During my interview process, I finally felt heard and seen for my vision and what I could bring to a high-school program.

I was sitting at each interview thinking that I could se myself here, I could plant roots here and build something that, not only the soccer community can be proud of, but the city of Kent as well. Since that day, I have loved the feeling of community that Kent has provided me. Growing up in Jackson Township community events and sports are something that everyone cherishes. It feels like my home away from home. I feel that no matter where I am, I have someone that was involved in the program, their daughters are growing up in the program or who are truly interested in how we are doing. It is fun knowing there is a whole community behind our team. It’s the same feeling I had growing up playing at Jackson.

Q: Who is your biggest influence/mentor?

A: My biggest influence as not only a player, but a coach, would be my high-school coach Frank Gagliardi. He was my coach at the youth level and throughout high school. He has been on the same sideline as me and the opposite. He is someone who is incredibly tough on you, because he knows what your best is, but also he has standards set that he expects you to achieve. As tough as he is, he is someone who will provide constant support whether you see him every day during your time in the program or long after you graduate. He taught me a lot about soccer, but most importantly how the game of soccer and the lessons you learn can be taken into your everyday life.

Q: Funny story nobody would believe from your playing days?

A: I played with my 11 best friends from 5th grade until 12th grade. Every day was comical.

Q: Funny story nobody would believe about you as a coach?

A: When I was coaching at Green, I was also still in college. So one day I was heading to the high school and was getting off the exit ramp to catch the bus to go to the Strongsville Showcase. As I was approaching the light, it turned yellow so I slowed down, but a Walmart truck tried to make the light. Next thing I know, my car is being moved into the ditch right in front of me. I got hit by the Walmart truck on the main road, so I’m just standing outside my car with the Walmart truck, and I think every single one of my players and their parents passed me at that moment. All of them did a double-take and called me, asking if I was OK. As I’m filling out the paperwork, the bus to go to the showcase drives by and honks, and I am still just standing next to my car.

Q: Favorite TV show?

A: Friends. I can recite it word for word without watching it.

Q: Favorite movie?

A: Remember the titans. I find a way to quote this move into my daily life a little too often.

Q: Favorite musical artist?

A: I love a variety of music, but my go to is country.

Q: Favorite food/meal?

A: Pizza. I absolutely love pizza and could eat it every day.

Q: Best vacation?

A: My mom’s family is from New Jersey, so I have been to the Jersey Shore every summer since I was born. It is my favorite place in the world. I feel so at home whenever I cross the bridge and am that much closer to the ocean.

Q: Favorite quote or motto?

A: Identify what is in your control and detail that and that only.

Q: Describe your coaching philosophy?

A: We can’t do big things if we don’t know how to do the little things. The little things become the b ig things. This means, in soccer, we can’t work on set pieces, corner kicks, etc., if we don’t know how to pass or understand the game of soccer. This can apply long after high-school soccer if you can’t understand the basic function of work, school, etc.

Q: What does it mean to be a Rough Riders student-athlete?

A: A Rough Rider athlete is accountable, disciplined and a team player.

Q: Favorite restaurant?

A: My favorite food places are in Ocean City/Long Beach Island, N.J. I look forward to going there every year to get my pizza, ice cream, hoagie and seafood fix.

Q: Favorite teacher from high school?

A: My freshman year English teacher is actually the reason I am in the profession I am. His name is Mike Fuline. He is also currently the men’s basketball head coach at Mount Union. During study hall, he would not always be in his room because he had other things had head to do during his free period, so he told me I should go volunteer in the MD room at our high school. The next day he marched me down there, and I volunteered in that room for the next three years during my study halls. Leading me to become an Intervention Specialist and now a Behavior Therapist.

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

A: Sometimes the hardest lessons are the ones that mean the most. You’re going to face challenges in soccer, school, family and friends. How you conduct yourself doing those hard lessons — do you keep going or d you shy away — will show your true character.

Q: Favorite coach from your playing days?

A: Frank Gagliardi.

Q: Coaching resume?

A: Jackson High School JV coach (3 years); Green High School JV coach/varsity assistant (3 years); Revere High School, JV coach/varsity assistant (4 years).

Q: Shoutout to former teammates.

A: I actually grew up playing with the same team from fifth grade on — so when we got to high school, we had already been playing together for years. We are still friends to the day — even though we don’t see everyone as much as we would like, but we always celebrate the big milestones. I actually texted them a few weeks ago asking for drills that we used to do, because I was running out of ideas.

Brie Forchione, Danielle Wiseman, Abby Hutchinson, Mikenna Costin, Lexie Spradling.