ENTERPRISE, Ala. (WTVY) – Enterprise State Community College is the recipient of a $2,000 Sport Opportunity Grant from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Foundation to assist the college in adding a men’s soccer program. The new men’s soccer program is set to begin Fall Semester 2024 and Enterprise State is part of the NJCAA Division I program.
Over the last two years, Enterprise State has added men’s soccer, women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s golf, and men’s and women’s cross-country teams to the school’s existing programs, which consist of baseball, softball and men’s and women’s basketball. With the addition of men’s soccer, more students will be afforded the opportunity to play soccer after high school and receive athletic scholarships and financial aid, which provide access to higher education that they might not otherwise be able to afford.
Cade Stinnett, a former Enterprise High School soccer player, will serve as head coach for the new men’s soccer team.
“I want to say thank you to President (Danny) Long and the ESCC administration for giving me the chance to build this program,” Stinnett said. “My goal is to provide young athletes in Southeast Alabama and the surrounding areas the opportunity to play soccer and further their education.”
Interest in soccer has grown considerably in recent years in the state of Alabama. In Southeast Alabama, Enterprise State’s region, league soccer of all ages is growing rapidly, and more high schools are starting soccer programs for the first time.
Enterprise State recently partnered with the City of Enterprise to build a soccer complex that will be fully equipped with goals, lights, player benches, spectator seating, backstops, and a concession area.
“Because of the demand of the local recreation teams for soccer, they (City of Enterprise) are building three multipurpose fields on the west side of our campus that should be ready for play starting Fall 2024,” ESCC President Danny Long said. “The new complex will allow community soccer programs to be played on our campus and give the community a chance to see what Enterprise State has to offer.”
The addition of this facility will allow the Enterprise State Soccer Team to have its own space for practices and games along with equipment storage and maintenance equipment necessary for field upkeep.
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