Kim Deal interview's first year head coach Lance Gordon:

Kim Deal: What do you expect from yourself and your team in your first year at Ripon? 

Lance Gordon:  I expect to make some mistakes but I will learn from them.  I was taught early on that you can learn from anybody at anytime, be they nine or ninety, so it always pays to listen.   I listen to my players, they know more about the conference and the teams.  I think we can definitely do a lot better than we did last year.

KD:  With a full week’s worth of practices under your belt, what are they biggest differences from the Ripon program to the UW-Fox Valley program you coached for the past two seasons? 

LG:  Speed of play.  I was teaching my players to think about the second and third pass at Fox.  Here I have to get into the fourth and fifth.  Also the dedication of the players.  At Fox I got some great players but they also had other commitments, like work, that you had to deal with.  Here at Ripon the players missing practices and games is the exception not the norm.

KD:  Have any particular players jumped out at you in terms of talent or leadership that the conference may not yet be aware of?  What players do you expect to have big years in 2009? 

LG:  The Freshman Wilkins player from Beloit looks like a very solid player for Tim.  I think he has like five or six goals already before they play Concordia.  That is difficult for anyone let alone a freshman.  He will be a force for four years.

KD:  Can you give us any insight as to what formation you like to play, how your teams like to attack or any defensive schemes you may be working with? 

LG:  I love the 4-4-2 with a flat four in the back and a diamond in the middle, but you have to play a formation that fits your talent.  A great soccer coach told me that you have to play the best formation that fits your talent.  I will change my formation as my talent dictates.

KD:  What kind of player is Marco Rhein?  Do you see him being one of the conferences elite goal scorers? 

LG:  Marco is a leader.  He will do whatever is asked of him with everything he has.  He isn't a Hietpas or a Prentice, not many are, but he can get five to ten goals a year and be a very solid player up top.  If he is paired with a solid partner he can do some damage.