Courtesy of Sean Elliot
Coach Norm Riker, Head Coach for Women’s Soccer, or as it is affectionately known as COCOWOSO, has departed after 15 seasons of service at Connecticut College. A member of the college’s staff, Coach Riker cultivated great relationships with other staff and faculty, as well as parents and athletes on the team. Although the move certainly came as a surprise to many, he isn’t without plans.
Coach Riker, a soccer and lacrosse star through high school and lacrosse alone at his alma mater, Springfield College, began his coaching career as a temporary head women’s soccer at Vassar in 2000. In 2002, he was hired to be head women’s soccer coach at Wittenberg University, where he also took on the position of assistant coach for women’s lacrosse. Coach Norm would serve as head coach for Wittenberg through the 2010 season. The second half of his career at Wittenberg saw the team become a solid contender, but he would depart for Connecticut College for the start of the 2011 season.
After a rocky start, Coach Riker led the team to some periods of success beginning 2014, where COCOWOSO closed out the season 16-3-1, with similar competitive teams in 2016 and 2019. Following this, performance faltered somewhat, ultimately culminating in his departure from Connecticut College.
Outside of women’s soccer, Coach Riker was instrumental in bringing fishing classes to Conn following a meeting with athletics director Mo White, wherein he suggested offering it as a sequence of Phys Ed courses in the Fall and Spring semesters. Being one of the most highly sought after classes come course registration, Coach Riker has produced waves of new anglers to take advantage of the great variety of fish in the Thames as well as surrounding ponds and streams. He has indicated that he was very happy to be able to get students up and moving around and engaging with nature. The buck wasn’t intended to stop here however. Coach Riker also suggested that he had intended to expand the scope of the nautical activities that could be offered through Phys Ed, though owing to his departure, this unfortunately may not happen. He will likely be replaced as Fishing Professor by Head Men’s and Women’s Squash Coach Tim Lasusa, whom he referred to as being an avid fisherman like himself.
Riker will be missed by many students, staff, and faculty as the school begins its nationwide search for a new Head Women’s Soccer Coach.
Coach Norm Riker, Head Coach for Women’s Soccer, or as it is affectionately known as COCOWOSO, has departed after 15 seasons of service at Connecticut College. A member of the college’s staff, Coach Riker cultivated great relationships with other staff and faculty, as well as parents and athletes on the team. Although the move certainly came as a surprise to many, he isn’t without plans.
Coach Riker, a soccer and lacrosse star through high school and lacrosse alone at his alma mater, Springfield College, began his coaching career as a temporary head women’s soccer at Vassar in 2000. In 2002, he was hired to be head women’s soccer coach at Wittenberg University, where he also took on the position of assistant coach for women’s lacrosse. Coach Norm would serve as head coach for Wittenberg through the 2010 season. The second half of his career at Wittenberg saw the team become a solid contender, but he would depart for Connecticut College for the start of the 2011 season.
After a rocky start, Coach Riker led the team to some periods of success beginning 2014, where COCOWOSO closed out the season 16-3-1, with similar competitive teams in 2016 and 2019. Following this, performance faltered somewhat, ultimately culminating in his departure from Connecticut College.
Outside of women’s soccer, Coach Riker was instrumental in bringing fishing classes to Conn following a meeting with athletics director Mo White, wherein he suggested offering it as a sequence of Phys Ed courses in the Fall and Spring semesters. Being one of the most highly sought after classes come course registration, Coach Riker has produced waves of new anglers to take advantage of the great variety of fish in the Thames as well as surrounding ponds and streams. He has indicated that he was very happy to be able to get students up and moving around and engaging with nature. The buck wasn’t intended to stop here however. Coach Riker also suggested that he had intended to expand the scope of the nautical activities that could be offered through Phys Ed, though owing to his departure, this unfortunately may not happen. He will likely be replaced as Fishing Professor by Head Men’s and Women’s Squash Coach Tim Lasusa, whom he referred to as being an avid fisherman like himself.
Riker will be missed by many students, staff, and faculty as the school begins its nationwide search for a new Head Women’s Soccer Coach.
