Donovan Ricketts is one of the most decorated goalkeepers in MLS history. He was twice named the league's goalkeeper of the year. He has been capped 100 times by Jamaica.
So the reaction on twitter to the news that Ricketts was going to join Emory, a Division III school, as goalkeeper coach was something along the lines of "What?"
Ricketts, currently in Jamaica, answered a few questions about his decision in an email chat on Tuesday. He will arrive in Atlanta on the Fourth of July and start at Emory on Aug. 15.
Q: The natural and first question is why?
A: I have achieved a lot over my professional career and it all came over time, I didn’t start at the top. I worked my way up. This is the same approach I am taking on my new journey as a coach. This role at Emory is my way of working my way up with goalkeepers who are eager to learn.
This is a part of the answer to your first question of why: Goalkeepers are a special breed. I know the typical mindset of a goalkeeper. I knew I needed to enter coaching at a level where the goalkeepers were relatively young. It would be difficult to make this transition with goalkeepers I competed with or against. This move gives me the chance to hone my skills and at the same time grow and also develop my own style of goalkeeping.
Q: What did you know about Emory and/or its program?
A: I am familiar with Emory University through a good friend, Jeff Solem, who is an Emory alumni. He reached out to me when he found out Emory was looking for a goalkeepers coach.
Q: What did you know about Atlanta?
A: I have been familiar with Atlanta again through Jeff and also my former national team goalkeeper coach, Paul Campbell, who lives in Atlanta.
I have been looking and trying to decide on a city to settle with my wife and children, somewhere not too far from our home in Jamaica.
It was a choice between Orlando and Atlanta, Emory just made the decision a little easier.
Q: Do your career goals include managing a club?
A: I believe my experience and knowledge of the game puts me in a very good position to consider managing a club in the future.
Q: If so, do you have a preference in league, country, etc?
A: I think my focus right now is on goalkeeper coaching as I pursue my USSF and Europa coaching licenses. At this time I really don’t have a preference to league or country as long as my family is with me.
Q: What will be your coaching style?
A: Goalkeeper coaching for me is based on the individuals. I do believe my style of coaching is founded on hard work because hard work brings the best results.
I am certain our goalkeepers will have already trained with a goalkeeper coach and have the basic fundamentals.
I am very heavy on technique but I am also aware that fixing technique deficiencies needs to be done without tampering with the goalkeepers’ confidence.
The psychological part of a goalkeepers’ game is often overlooked. I will be working very closely with the keepers to try and make them strong in every aspect of their game.
Q: What will be your strengths as a coach?
A: My strength as a coach will come from acknowledging that my experience and knowledge is of no value if I am not able to pass them along to the goalkeepers I train.
I have seen first-hand retired goalkeepers are unable or unwilling to improve goalkeepers based on their approach.
My approach is simple: It is no longer about me, but about me making these goalkeepers the best they can be, even if that means better than I ever was.
Q: Pretend that I’m a parent of a recruit. Give me your pitch: Why should I send my son to be a goalkeeper at Emory?
A: My pitch to any parent would be they can be certain that they are putting the development of their son’s goalkeeping ability in the hands of someone who has played at the highest level. But I don’t believe that defines me as a coach. I intend to work very hard on bringing out the best goalkeeper that your son could possibly be.
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