Press Releases

May 16, 2001
Flagship Athletic Program Hires Swede Skipper

Caspar Pauckstadt Joins 11 Swedish Players on Men's Champ Soccer Team

Contact:
Darren Johnson
(631) 287 8313
Fax: (631) 283 4081

Former Swedish pro Caspar Pauckstadt has been named men's head soccer coach at Southampton College, Athletic Director Mary Topping announced today. He joins one of the nation's premier Division II teams - a squad that last year featured 11 Swedes.

"We are thrilled to have a coach of his caliber," Topping said. "He's just the right person to keep our program moving forward and get us back to the NCAA tournament."

He replaces Southampton College's winningest coach, Ed Goodhines, who left to head the athletic department of a boys' academy in Virginia. Goodhines' career record was 114-62-9. The Colonials won the Northeast Regional title in the NCAA Tournament in 1999 and last year took their second-straight New York Collegiate Athletic Conference title. Over the past two seasons, Southampton is a combined 15-0-1 in league play.

How a Swedish coach ended up with a team that is predominantly Swedish was serendipitous. Southampton College for years has been attracting Swedish athletes because the seaside campus' laid-back charm reminds them of their homeland, while also being close enough to New York City for day trips.

Pauckstadt, 37, meanwhile has been living in the City, but planned to move to the Hamptons with his wife Christina when their son Leo was born last year. "It's beautiful and relaxed out there; a really nice place to raise a family," he said. "I had also followed the Southampton College team and just heard through word-of-mouth that Ed [Goodhines] was leaving.

"I was very fortunate to get the opportunity to coach this program. Hopefully I can carry on what Ed started."

Pauckstadt played for Swedish champ Malmo and had a nine-year professional career before blowing out his knee. He speaks four languages, was a player under famous former Swiss national coach Roy Hodgson and was an assistant coach at University of New Hampshire from 1995-96.

The new coach inherits most of the components of last year's championship team with one major exception. While star scorer Peter Nillson (18 goals) returns, the team loses All-American goalie Roger Svensson to graduation. However, Svensson will be on the sideline as assistant coach.