United International College Women’s Soccer – Coach Johana Karbanova
On today’s episode, I speak with Coach Johana from the UIC Women’s Program in Florida. We talk about what it’s like to build a brand new program. She describes their possible schedule as they get going. Lastly, we discuss how she is looking for players who show they can overcome challenges. Learn more about United International College Women’s Soccer.
Matt: [00:00:00] Hi everybody. Welcome to Discover College Soccer. Today I’m lucky enough to be joined by Coach Johana from the United International College in Miami, Florida. Welcome coach.
Coach: Hello. Thank you so much for the invitation, and I’m excited. I’m excited to speak about everything about our program.
Matt: Yeah, well, we don’t get to do this often and we’re talking to the coach of a program that doesn’t even exist yet, right?
I mean, you haven’t had, you haven’t had your first game. So, uh, you’re building a program right now, uh, hoping to, to kick off in August, right?
Coach: That’s right. Yeah. It’s, it is exciting. We’re building a whole new men’s and women’s, uh, soccer team. Our school have some, uh, athletic, uh, programs right now, as in basketball and baseball, but we are adding more as our school is growing.
So, uh, I’m excited. Women’s soccer was part of it, and yeah, we’re gonna start, uh, for the, for the first time this fall. Okay.
Matt: Fantastic. Now, uh, a little bit more about the. You’re recruiting because you, you’re brand new, right? Uh, as a program. So you guys are gonna be part of the U S C A A initially, which is the small College Athletic Association.
And I noticed you, you, in your, one of your social media posts, you did say scholarships available. So, uh, what are, kind of fill us in on the guidelines and, and what scholarships are both from an athletic standpoint at your school and what are some of the other, uh, [00:01:30] Scholarship opportunities that might be available for, for folks, whether that’s academic money or, or otherwise.
Coach: Okay. So, um, we understand that building a new program, uh, we have to put, uh, you know, some little more finances into, into building a brand new thing. So, uh, we understand that and we have scholarships available. Um, if it’s 30%, 50%, even. A hundred percent. Okay. So we, we are able, if, uh, Uh, if we’re talking about really skilled players, that would make a big impact, uh, on our game, you know, uh, proper, proper starters.
Uh, we have, we have, um, full tuitions available. We do not cover housing so that it’s something that, um, the players have to think about in the area if they’re willing to have a roommate. Uh, stuff like that. Usually it goes around five to $600 a month. And usually what the players do right now is that they stay together.
So I know our, our baseball team for example, they rented a whole house and all the guys stay in one house, uh, by the school and basketball Canada of the same thing. And we as a school now renting, um, a apartment complex as well. So the players won’t even have to look for anything, you know, so, uh, that is really nice, but that is the cause that, uh, they always have to add.
But, uh, as for tuition, Uh, we have many options. Uh, if we’re talking about, uh, skilled players, no matter if you’re international, uh, or domestic player. Uh, we do not offer academic scholarships, uh, [00:03:00] but uh, we can look into, you know, more independent scholarships, uh, based on essays and other achievements. So that is definitely an option.
Matt: Okay. Now building a a, a new team from scratch, obviously you don’t wanna, well, you want to try to avoid bringing in, you know, 25 freshmen because then they’re all there for four years. Right. And you, you wouldn’t, it’d be hard to bring in other classes. So, are you, you looking a lot at junior college players and, and transfer players as well?
Coach: Yes, that is exactly, uh, exactly what I’m doing. I’m looking not, um, just even for JUCO players, but also for players that already have their bachelors and they’re looking to do their masters with us. So, uh, really players with lots of experience. Not necessarily, you know, some, some people played their whole lives, some started a little later, so it doesn’t have to, uh, be that the graduate student has the most experience.
But, um, just overall in general, I would say that I am looking for players that are really mature and outgoing. So, uh, because it’s challenging to join a new program. So, uh, players that can, you know, overcome those challenges without any unnecessary drama, that’s what I would say. Um, it’s, is what I’m looking for.
Matt: No, it makes a lot of sense. Well, let’s learn a little bit more about the, the school. Um, you know, I’m sure there’s folks out there not familiar with, uh, with the college and, and even your shirt right there, the, the first word on there is different than it is now, cuz I know there’s a lot of changes going on there.
So, kind of just gimme a little bit of [00:04:30] background about the school. What makes it unique? What, what, what makes it a great place for people to look at?
Coach: Yeah, so that’s true. I didn’t know you can even see that. But, uh, on my shirt it says, uh, uni Latina, which was, uh, the previous name because this school is, uh, it was funded in Medel in Colombia by four sisters.
And it’s actually an interesting story. Um, they were very successful, uh, in, in Colombia, but uh, back then it was, it, it was kind of bad times with, with economics and criminality in Colombia, and they were advised by the, by the police in Colombia that if they do not leave Colombia immediately because they were doing good with their business.
Uh, they can, they could, their, uh, daughters and their kids might be kidnapped because that’s what was going on, uh, in Colombia and maybe is still to a certain, uh, you know, point. So, uh, so they decided to, to move because they didn’t wanna be, uh, You know, in, in the, in the danger. So they moved here to Miami, so for, for, for multiple years.
The, the college is here, uh, in Miramar, which is a really nice urban area with a lot of housing. It’s very safe, really nice. It’s, it’s, it’s relatively new. Uh, so that’s really cool. Uh, But I think it’s, the school really still stayed like, kind of like family organized because the four sister, they, they work at the, at the school and, and you know, they care, uh, take care of everything.
I always say to my recruits that, um, you have to, when you think about the. The movie experience that [00:06:00] maybe they have from Europe, thinking about how American colleges, this is probably not exactly like that. We’re, we’re not a huge school with a huge campus, you know, like high school, musical, uh, stuff like that.
So that’s something you have to think about. But the culture, um, you know, we are a small school, but when some of our teams play, everyone goes. So even though we have just couple hundred students, um, our, our games are always full and it seems like birth is huge, you know, uh, institution. So that’s, that’s really nice to see.
So, uh, it’s, it’s really cool. But, um, the players have to think about it. If they, if they like, um, more the small, to know all of their classmates, to know all of their teachers or have this bigger campus. Some people just. Prefer that and there’s nothing bad about it. So that’s definitely something to think about.
But I would say it’s, it’s a good thing that we’re, um, you know, based in Miami because even if you, if you don’t like, uh, the, the small amount of people in our school there, there’s always, you know, so many people in Miami and there’s always things to do any, any day, any time there’s things going on in Miami.
Matt: Yeah, that’s for sure. Well, let’s fast forward and, and say that we’re. In September. Right. And, and you’ve got your team and, and you’ve got everything set up. How do you envision a typical week looking, uh, for the life of a player in terms of winter classes? When is meals, training games, all that kind of thing?
Coach: So, um, I would say, but it’s gonna, it’s gonna definitely vary. [00:07:30] I wanna start, um, the program with a very intense camp that’s gonna be going on for two weeks. Uh, that’s gonna be the whole two weeks. Just, just soccer, you know, soccer, soccer, uh, at least two practices a day. Recovery team buildings. Uh, all that.
So, uh, that’s gonna be very intense. Uh, it’s also because our school doesn’t start until the end of August, so, uh, we, we have some time to really focus on the team and get the chemistry together, uh, because I know it’s gonna be a new team. So we need that. Uh, And, uh, when we kind of like, uh, transition in into normal schedule, um, I think in the, in the morning we will definitely, we have two, two, uh, times, uh, as possible, uh, for our practice.
Right now, it’s either gonna be from seven to nine in the morning on. Or from four to six in the afternoon. It’s, it’s definitely, uh, also because of the weather here in Florida, in fall, it can be really, really hot. So, uh, I personally played my college years here in Florida, and sometimes when you play around one, uh, two in the afternoon, you don’t even think about soccer.
You, you, you just think when it’s gonna be over, you know, sweating everything. So, uh, that’s definitely, uh, it’s either gonna be. In the morning or in the afternoon, uh, players have the whole day to go to their classes. Uh, obviously, obviously have a lunch. And then, um, if we practice in the morning, probably in the afternoon, we’re gonna have a gym or recovery session.
What is really nice that, uh, we have available [00:09:00] facility, we do not have our own gym, but we collaborate with, uh, 24 Hour Fitness, uh, which means that all of our players get a pass so they can go whatever they want, as well as we are gonna go as a team. And we have, uh, jacuzzi, we have a pool, we have sauna, everything we need for recovery and for practicing.
So if they, if they need some extra recovery, for example, they’re always welcome to go, you know, to, to do whatever they need to do. So I’m excited about that.
Matt: Yeah, that, that sounds like a great option. Well, in terms of the. The school itself. I know folks are always curious as to the academic side of things, not just the soccer side of things.
So what would you say are some of the strong points on the academic side of things at at U I C.
Coach: Okay, well, we focus a lot on, on business, I would say. That’s why we have, uh, multiple business majors. So I, I, I understand that our options are not huge. As I said, we’re a small school and we did not wanna offer so many majors that would not be, you know, quality majors that would just put us to have everything.
Um, that’s not really what, what the school wanted to do. So we have kind of like three major areas, the business, um, We offer business administration, administration, then I believe international business management. And then we offer a communications major, uh, which is, uh, I think amazing for, for people that are looking into journalism, into, uh, broadcasting, anything like that.
Um, because one of the sisters, uh, that actually funded [00:10:30] the school is a filmmaker. Uh, so she also teaches one of the classes, we have our own school podcast. Uh, the students get to engage in the pages, um, in the. Athletic pages of making them. So it’s, it’s a lot of, I know it’s a lot of fun and they always have so many workshops, so that’s why I personally, uh, know it’s a really good program.
And then we offer travel and tourism, so that’s our kind of like three main areas. And I would say we’re very strong. We, we only have three, uh, for this reason. So we can, we can be strong. And also what is a nice thing that a majority of our students are athletes, um, because we, you know, we, we all love sports.
Uh, and that was kind of like the idea about, about the school. So it’s, it’s very flexible, you know, uh, really there’s no, no, uh, professor that will make you make your time, you know, not good because of you play sports. So it’s, it’s very flexible. Some of the classes are hybrid, some of them are online. Uh, and it’s all depends on your, on your soccer schedule.
So that’s really nice.
Matt: Okay. Well, you know, as you’re trying to build this team out and, and you’re looking at all the different players, whether that’s transfers or freshmen or whatever the case may be, are there certain attributes that you’re looking for in a player, whether that’s soccer related or off the field stuff?
Coach: No. Yeah, definitely. As I said, um, I’m looking a lot for, uh, major players. Um, it is very, very challenging to relocate, um, whether that is out of state or whether that is [00:12:00] maybe to even a different continent. So I’m looking to players, uh, that are willing to overcome challenges. And, um, right now I’m seeing a little, uh, uh, you know, from, especially recruits from from Europe, um, They kind of like want everything.
I feel like they want everything to be set up prayer, you know? So they need to know everything, every little step. And that that’s a good thing. You know, that’s a good thing to know, as many information as you want, but sometimes I feel like they just wanna come and have everything set up. But, um, I feel like when you come here, part of the experience and part of the learning is that you kind of like figure things out.
Um, so I always tell them that it’s like a climbing rock, you know, climbing a mountain, you know, you, you kind of like can’t start at the top. You, you just have to come here and then, and then you go, you know, then, uh, you kind of like build your own future. So not everything, uh, can be set up. So that’s why I’m looking and when I’m asking the players, uh, I’m always trying to see if they’re willing to.
You know, figure the things out. Cause it happens, you know, sometimes, uh, the players hate their roommates or their roommates hate them, or, or, you know, or, or they don’t have enough money to pay housing. You know, and, and then what now? You know, but you always figure it out there, there’s always a way. So I’m looking for players that, you know, even on and off the field, they, they’re willing to figure it out.
Um, but when talking about athletic mobility, um, Definitely varies, but I’m [00:13:30] looking on highlights. I definitely an ideal situation. Uh, would love to see everyone in person. Uh, but I don’t get to see everyone, especially now the internationals. Uh, but I’m looking for, for strong players. Uh, I think college soccer is very, very strong.
The, the girls here are very tall, you know? Uh, Attributes like that. So just kind of like an athletic person and, uh, and coachable, uh, coachable person, uh, who not only talks, but also also listen. So, okay. I think that,
Matt: no, that’s great. Well, coach, uh, I I’ll leave you with, uh, with kind of just an open generic question.
We know we’ve talked about a lot of things, but, but is there anything we didn’t talk about? Anything you wanna make sure people know about, whether it’s it’s the school, about your program, or anything else? Uh, now’s the time and I’ll leave you with the last word.
Coach: Yeah, I think, uh, I think sometimes what, uh, what the players ask me, what is kind of like their big concern is, um, the association that we’re gonna, that we’re gonna play in.
You know, especially, uh, international players always ask, uh, is it D one? Is it D two? Is it an aia? And they might be not familiar with the, with the association that we played. Uh, however, um, I think the level, especially in Florida of a soccer is very high. Uh, you know, whatever you play, it’s, it’s, it’s a, it’s a destination that is on a wishlist for many, many soccer players, many international students.
[00:15:00] So really any college that you play in the area is very quality, uh, quality program. So I just, you know, want people to know that, um, It’s great to do their own research and see what schools play it, what schools are in the area, and to not be scared to, to, to, you know, enter that. And, and even if it’s not just the D one, you know, if, even if they maybe don’t know it, uh, we will still, you know, play friendlys.
We will still, uh, compete with those teams. Uh, so it’s not, you know, it’s not just like nothing
Matt: now aren’t, aren’t there two divisions within. U S C A A. Are you guys gonna be division one or division two? Within.
Coach: Uh, I’m not sure. Uh, as we’re in the process of joining, how is that gonna go? Yeah, but I’m not sure.
I think that might be just for some locations. Okay. I believe that maybe in Florida, uh, there’s gonna be only one division. Okay.
Matt: Okay. Awesome. Well, coach, we wish you the best of luck in, uh, in, in getting this program off the ground and, and creating something new, which is al always exciting. And, uh, if you get over to my side of the state, uh, for any of the ECNL or any other tournaments, let me know and, and we will, uh, we’ll grab a cup of coffee or something.
All right.
Coach: Definitely. Sounds great. Thank
Matt: you so much. All right. Thank you.
