Ken Niumatalolo had plans this week to hit the recruiting path this week to bolster his roster for upcoming seasons. He by no means received the possibility.
Niumatalolo, who is not going to return after 15 seasons as the pinnacle soccer coach on the Naval Academy, the varsity introduced Sunday, advised The Capital that he didn’t anticipate to get fired and had already begun strategizing methods to get Navy again on a profitable path.
As a substitute, Niumatalolo met with Navy athletic director Chet Gladchuk on Saturday evening at Lincoln Monetary Discipline in Philadelphia following the Mids’ heartbreaking 20-17 double-overtime loss to Army. Gladchuk indicated what route he supposed to go and Niumatalolo requested that he take into consideration the choice for a day.
“It was an ideal run, however I wasn’t prepared for it to be over. I am nonetheless wholesome, I am nonetheless sturdy, I wished to complete this up, however Chet had different plans,” stated Niumatalolo, who turned 57 in Could.
“I am a grown man and have been on this occupation a very long time. I perceive the sort of factor is a part of it. I did not assume my run was over, however I suppose Chet clearly thought in any other case and he is the boss.”
Former Navy soccer coach Ken Niumatalolo spoke to the Capital hours after it as introduced he wouldn’t return as head coach.
“It has been an ideal honor and an ideal blessing to function the pinnacle soccer coach of the Naval Academy.”
Navy largely outplayed Army on the sector Saturday evening, however the scoreboard advised a unique story. A blocked punt that led on to a Black Knights landing and a fumble that prevented a possible landing for the Midshipmen finally proved decisive.
On the primary possession of the second extra time, fullback Anton Corridor Jr. was lunging to recover from the objective line when the ball received jarred unfastened and Army recovered. Moments later, kicker Quinn Maretzki booted the game-winning subject objective.
“We had been a pair inches away from profitable that sport final evening. I suppose that shall be even more durable to swallow now,” Niumatalolo stated. “We felt like we must always have overwhelmed Army yesterday, so it is robust to exit this manner. Who is aware of, possibly if we win that sport we would not be having this dialog.”
Gladchuk advised The Capital that outcomes on the sector compelled his hand. Navy suffered shedding data in 4 of the final 5 seasons and is 3-7 towards service academy rivals Air Pressure and Army since 2018.
Niumatalolo, who was promoted to go coach in December 2007, led Navy to profitable data in eight of the earlier 9 seasons.
“I want we had been going out below completely different circumstances,” he stated. “I labored very laborious, together with many others, to construct this program. I had hoped to have the ability to flip issues round. I am a competitor, so clearly I wished to complete this factor out.”
Turbulent occasions
Navy suffered simply its second shedding season below Niumatalolo in 2018, going 3-10 total and 2-6 within the American Athletic Convention. After a lot contemplation, Niumatalolo let go of most of his defensive assistants and Brian Newberry, who was named interim head coach on Sunday, was employed as defensive coordinator, bringing in lots of his personal assistants.
That transfer paid dividends and quarterback Malcolm Perry revived the struggling offense as Navy compiled an 11-2 total report and 7-1 convention report in 2019. The Midshipmen swept Army and Air Pressure to seize the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy and upset Kansas State within the Liberty Bowl.
Niumatalolo blamed the struggles of the previous three seasons on the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. Navy soccer didn’t do any reside hitting through the 2020 preseason as Niumatalolo tried to restrict shedding gamers because of constructive coronavirus exams and subsequent contact tracing. That call proved a mistake because the Midshipmen received blown out by BYU, 55-3, within the opener and wound up ending 3-7 in a season marred by sport cancellations and postponements.
Coronavirus restrictions on the Naval Academy continued into the 2021 season and members of the Brigade of Midshipmen had been confined to the Bancroft Corridor dormitory for weeks and months at a time.
“In the course of the pandemic, we had probably the most restrictions of any faculty soccer program within the nation. Our gamers had been remoted of their dorm rooms. We might barely apply,” Niumatalolo stated. “I positively really feel just like the pandemic set us again large time.”
These circumstances led to widespread transfers amongst soccer gamers and worn out the senior lessons in each 2021 and 2022.
Navy solely had 5 senior starters this season and a handful of different contributors from the senior class. On the brilliant aspect, all of the younger gamers that had been compelled to develop up in a rush could be returning in 2023, which gave Niumatalolo hope for dramatic enchancment.
“A number of the issues that occurred due to COVID affected our program greater than anyone. We have been hamstrung for the previous few years, however I really feel like we had been simply beginning to get via that,” Niumatalolo stated. “I really feel actually good about this program going ahead. Now we have a ton of fine gamers coming again and the schedule lightens up subsequent season.”
Niumatalolo additionally felt Navy was not taking part in on a degree taking part in subject with service academy rivals Army and Air Pressure over the previous decade or so. The administrations at West Level and Colorado Springs had allowed their respective soccer applications to mainly redshirt gamers who suffered season-ending accidents.
Air Pressure famously despatched the vast majority of its soccer gamers house for the 2020 fall semester to protect their eligibility. These so-called “turnbacks” resulted within the Falcons having fifth-year seniors in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
“I felt like we had been handcuffed as in comparison with the opposite two service academies so far as stretching gamers. Clearly, Air Pressure mainly redshirted its whole workforce in 2020. Army has been stretching guys ever since [coach Jeff Monken] received there they usually made a serious dedication to soccer,” Niumatalolo stated.
“The Naval Academy was not keen to try this and it was positively an obstacle. There have been another elementary modifications I wished to make and our management would not budge, which I perceive.”
Niumatalolo was additionally hamstrung on the recruiting path after Supreme Courtroom sided with a gaggle of present and former athletes who stated the NCAA was violating federal antitrust legislation by limiting student-athlete compensation to the worth of a primary scholarship, which struck on the NCAA’s definition of amateurism. Maryland, amongst many different states, additionally handed legal guidelines granting faculty athletes the correct to revenue off their names, pictures and likenesses.
Service academy athletes couldn’t take part in NIL, nonetheless, as a result of the Division of Protection considers student-athletes at Army, Air Pressure and Navy authorities workers and doesn’t enable them to hunt outdoors employment.
“In case your objective is simply to win, then you definately promote your soul and do no matter it takes to win. I by no means did that. I by no means compromised the establishment. I by no means even thought of breaking any NCAA guidelines,” Niumatalolo stated. “I used to be going to do every little thing in my energy to verify everybody concerned with our program operated with honesty and integrity.”
Storybook profession
Niumatalolo received into teaching as a graduate assistant at Hawaii below the tutelage of Paul Johnson. Niumatalolo performed quarterback for the Rainbow Warriors when Johnson was the offensive coordinator.
When Johnson was employed as Navy offensive coordinator, he introduced Niumatalolo and one other graduate assistant, Ivin Jasper, together with him to assist set up the triple-option offense.
“I got here right here 25 years in the past, mainly as a child from Hawaii. My spouse and I raised our household right here,” stated Niumatalolo, getting choked up.
Niumatalolo was promoted to offensive coordinator below head coach Charlie Weatherbie after Johnson left Navy to grow to be head coach at Georgia Southern in 1997. Nevertheless, Weatherbie wound up firing Niumatalolo just a few years later after the 2 had disagreements in regards to the route of the offense.
Niumatalolo remained in teaching as an assistant at UNLV below legendary coach John Robinson. He returned to Annapolis with the title of affiliate head coach after Johnson was employed to switch Weatherbie in 2002.
A dramatic teaching comeback took one other stunning flip when Gladchuk promoted Niumatalolo to go coach to succeed Johnson after the latter left for Georgia Tech in 2007.
“I am grateful that Chet took an opportunity on me. He did not actually know me that effectively,” Niumatalolo stated. “I will be trustworthy, I did not have a ton of conversations with Chet whereas I used to be an assistant. He principally talked to Paul and Buddy. I used to be type of shocked that he even gave me an interview. I am grateful that Chet believed in me.”
Navy soccer loved large success below Niumatalolo, posting 10 profitable seasons that ended with bowl video games, capturing the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy six occasions, knocking off six high 25 opponents and beating Notre Dame thrice.
By means of all of it, Niumatalolo by no means overlooked the first job of any coach on the Naval Academy.
“My backside line objective has all the time been to develop younger males of character and management. I am on the Naval Academy and that’s the mission,” he stated. “I’ve all the time wished to do my half to additional the mission. I go away right here with my head excessive understanding that I did that, and gained a ton of video games within the course of.”
Niumatalolo stated he is not able to trip off into the sundown and revel in retirement at his house in Hawaii. He nonetheless has the need to educate and can see what alternatives come up.
“I am nonetheless going to do one thing. I’ve nonetheless received loads left within the tank. My adrenaline continues to be flowing from final evening,” he stated.
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