EMEKA EZEUGO NAMED MEN’S SOCCER COACH
FORMER NIGERIAN WORLD CUP PLAYER HIRED
Brooklyn, NY – Athletic Director Jerry Albig hired Emeka Ezeugo as the new men’s soccer coach at New York City College of Technology today. Ezeugo, a former Olympian and World Cup player for Nigeria succeeds Rodger Ramallo-Fernandez who led the Yellow Jackets for one season (3-5-2) and resigned for personal reasons over the summer.
“I am extremely pleased to hire a soccer coach with Emeka's credentials as a former world class player,” said Director of Athletics Jerry Albig. “I believe our student athletes will benefit tremendously from Emeka's knowledge of the game, work ethic and past soccer experiences. With Emeka at the helm our soccer program has taken a giant step forward.”
Ezeugo has a vast coaching record over the past seven years, as he completed his transition from player to coach that included a stint as the head coach at CUNY’s Borough of Manhattan Community College in 2000. That year, his BMCC squad improved from worst (5th place) in 1999 to first (CUNYAC Champions) in 2000. Ezeugo went to Peru to play (Peruvian Professional League) and coach (Deportivo Municipal, Lima) for two seasons before coming back to the United States. With this opportunity at City Tech, he hopes to pursue a Graduate Degree in the area as time permits, while building an elite Division III program here at NYCCT.
On the field, Ezeugo, who was 24 at the time, was a starter for Nigeria in the Seoul Olympic Games in 1988 and then for the Nigerian World Cup team in 1994 that made a splash by qualifying for the quarterfinals. Known as a big physical defender, he also played professionally in five continents besides the USA during a 15-year playing career. In the States, he played one season for the Connecticut Wolves of the A-League during the 2000 season.