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Division I NCAA men Rammel resigns at Saint Mary's to join MLS Galaxy.
Rammel led the Gaels to a 9-9-1 record in 2005, his fourth season leading the program. The team's overall mark during his tenure was 32-54-10 (.385). "Steve did a great job recruiting the type of student-athletes, and hiring the best coaches, to build a competitive Division I men's soccer program," SMC director of athletics and recreational sports Carl R. Clapp said in a school press release. "We wish him the very best in his future opportunities and we look forward to building on the success Steve established with our men's soccer team." Rammel will become the top assistant to Steve Sampson, who led the Galaxy to the 2005 MLS Cup championship last month. "This was one of the most difficult decisions I've had to make," Rammel said in the press release. "In order to grow and develop professionally as a coach, this is something that I need to do. When I got to Saint Mary's, the challenge was to field a solid team and recruit the right players. Currently, there is a good team returning and now the biggest challenge for the program is to win a West Coast Conference championship." Among Rammel's recruits were 2005 freshmen Michael Clegg, a forward, and Carlos Diaz, a midfielder, who were both named to the WCC all-conference first team. Clegg was named "Freshman of the Year," as was striker Matthew Fitzgerald in 2003. Fitzgerald earned all-WCC honors in all three of his collegiate seasons, including being picked to this season's second team. Rammel played in MLS during the league's first two seasons. In 1996, his 14 regular-season goals were sixth in the league and second on D.C. United which went on to capture the inaugural MLS Cup. His six game-winners led MLS and his 32 points placed him eighth. He would only score one goal in 11 games for United in 1997 and was traded to the Colorado Rapids for striker Roy Wegerle midway though the season. He didn't score for the Rapids in 10 regular-season appearances -- two starts -- and though he couldn't find net, he started five playoff games for Colorado which lost 2-1 to D.C. United in the MLS Cup final. After leading West Deptford High School to two straight New Jersey state championships, Rammel was named Parade magazine's "National Player of the Year" for his 1985-86 senior season. In 1990, his senior year at Rutgers, Rammel was second in the 1990 Hermann Trophy voting for the nation's top men's player to Indiana forward Ken Snow. Do you have a comment on this story or something to say about soccer in general? Send us a letter. |
