Croutier leaving storied Cyclones

After guiding South Side to five state girls' soccer championships and eight Long Island titles in as many years, Judi Croutier stepped down as varsity head coach on May 5.

"It was a great run," said Croutier, a former South Side player and 1985 graduate who spent five years as an assistant coach under Bob Bigelow. "The thing I'll miss most is working with the girls and my assistant coaches."

Two days after breaking the news to Athletic Director Carol Roseto, Croutier told a handful of players of her decision in a meeting last Friday. Assistant coaches Patricia Beaumont and Sue Quilty also stepped down.

"We lost an impressive combination of women," Roseto said. "Judi has left big shoes to fill —- she had a wonderful eight-year record. We wish her luck.

"I don't think anyone is too surprised because this is something she debated for a while," Roseto added. "Her children are getting older and she said she wants to spend more time with them. It was only a matter of when she chose to do it."

The interview process is already under way, though no timetable has been set for appointing Croutier's successor. "We're starting to interview — the word is out -— and I'm waiting for qualified applicants to fill the positions that are open in the entire program," Roseto said. "We're looking at Shannon McEntee — the JV coach — as Judi's replacement. That would mean the varsity assistant positions would be open as well as the JV head coaching position."

In 2009, the Lady Cyclones (17-0-2) capped their second undefeated season in three years with a victory over Greece Arcadia in the Class A state final. They beat Division to capture their 13th straight Nassau County championship, and topped Hauppauge for their 13th L.I. crown in a row.

South Side was ranked No. 1 nationally by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America for the second time in three years. Croutier was named New York State Coach of the Year to go along with her Long Island and Nassau Coach of the Year awards.

"Every season was special in its own way," she said. "It was a different group of girls each year and a different set of

circumstances."

When asked if she had a most memorable game during her coaching tenure, Croutier couldn't narrow it down to one. "We've had so many," she said. "We played a few great Long Island championship games against Islip, and every year we went upstate was memorable.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience to get to states, and we were fortunate enough to do it eight times."

Judy Rattner contributed to this story. Comments about it? TBellissimo@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 204.