Jeff Panik’s hard work and dedication to the players and program have turned things around since he took over the program in 2011. The 2012 men’s soccer team finished with a six-game win improvement and set eight new offensive records during the season. With their 7-9-1 finish, the Hawks qualified for their first-ever AMCC play-off game. And for their efforts, six members of the program were honored by the AMCC at the conclusion of the season. Jeff Panik was voted as the AMCC Coach of the Year; Rookie Mario Williams was selected as the Newcomer of the Year and was named to the 1st Team All-Conference. Freshman Jordan Lynch and sophomore transfer Jonathan Davison were named to the 2nd Team All-Conference and junior college transfer Michael Gee and well as senior James Knapp were named to the 3rd Team All-Conference.
Panik, a former Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL) and Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) professional player, brought over ten years of coaching experience and was a great fit for the newly created full-time soccer coach and Athletic Facilities Coordinator position.
Panik previously served as the head men’s soccer coach at North Country Community College (Saranac Lake, NY) for one season. His 2010 team posted a 10-6-3 record with a play-off win during his only season at the helm. Panik coached two All-Region Players and three All-Conference Players with one of those young men receiving a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Player of the Week honor during the season. In addition to his coaching duties, the Parma Heights, OH native served as an Adjunct Instructor in the Physical Education Department and NCCC’s Athletics Facility Manager/Events Coordinator. This position oversaw all sporting events on campus and managed the indoor and outdoor facilities.
Panik began his coaching career as a staff coach with the Samba Soccer Club while he was still a student at Cuyahoga Community College (Parma, OH) in 2000. For a total of seven summers, he directed boys and girls club teams ranging in ages from U-8 up to U-18. Two of his teams traveled to Sweden and Jamaica for international competition and, in 2006, his U-15 boys’ team brought home the Dalecarlia Cup. In 2004, Panik joined the college coaching ranks as an assistant coach at Cuyahoga Community College before he moved to Great Falls, MT to become the men’s assistant at the University of Great Falls (2008-2010). At both institutions, Panik assisted in the athletic recruitment as much as he designed and implemented training sessions for his players.
Not one to give up on his playing days, Panik squeezed in time for a professional playing career while coaching at the college level. In 2007 he played in every game for the Cleveland North Coast semi-professional indoor team of the PASL and served as a reserve/practice player for the professional indoor MISL’s Cleveland Force team in 2004. He maintained his spot on his German Central FC team in the USSF sanctioned Men’s Club league from 2001-2007 after his graduation from Cuyahoga Community College in 2001 and Walsh University in 2003.
Panik carries several awards and certifications with him to Western New York. He was named First Team in the Great Lakes Region (XII) and the Ohio CC Athletic Conference both seasons at Cuyahoga. In 2001, he earned NSCAA All-American status as a NJCAA athlete at Cuyahoga. And during his two seasons at Walsh University, Panik earned American Mideast All-Conference honors at the NAIA school located in Canton, OH. As a coach, Panik earned NSCAA State and Regional Goalkeeping Diplomas, as well as NSCAA National and Advanced National Diplomas.
Panik completed his Master of Arts in teaching from the University of Great Falls in 2009 after earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Walsh University (2004). He holds a Montana Class 2 Standard Teacher Certification, Secondary Ed, Socials Studies Broad field and English FA individual course certifications, many pertaining to soccer education.
