Fort Lewis College head men's soccer coach Oige Kennedy was named the 2011 NSCAA/MONDO National Coach of the Year for NCAA Division II, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America announced last week at its annual convention and awards banquet.

"Recognition by your peers is always special," said FLC Director of Athletics Gary Hunter.

Fort Lewis College men's soccer coach Oige Kennedy announced that English-born player Sameth Al-Basith has enrolled in classes this semester and has joined the Skyhawks in their defense of the NCAA Division II national championship.

"Sameth is a player that we are extremely excited to add to our roster for the upcoming spring," said Kennedy, who guided the Skyhawks to their third NCAA Division II title since 2005 last month.

Changing coaches often means changing playing styles, and the decision to hire Oscar Pareja as head coach means the Colorado Rapids of 2012 may look quite different from the teams of 2010-11.

Giving Pareja the reins of his first MLS team is going to create a roster shakeup. The Colombian, a veteran of MLS campaigns from 1998 through 2005, has already talked about the need to find a Carlos Valderrama-type playmaker for the Rapids.