Ball steps back to focus on club team
Ryan Clark
Issue date: 4/24/06 Section: Maine Sports
- Page 1 of 1
On Friday, men's soccer assistant trainer MJ Ball confirmed that he would be leaving the University of Maine.
Ball, who has been with the Black Bears since 2003, left to focus more on his Blackbear United Football Club. Despite his departure, Ball has said that he will help gaffer Travers Evans with the team next season.
"This was a great opportunity to move forward and a very good professional decision," Ball said. "For me, youth coaching is my passion and it's the development of a massive complex, which would be the first of its kind in the area.
"My main reason for leaving is that if I don't do this, no one else will."
Before coming to Orono, Ball had guided the men's and women's programs at the University of Maine-Machias.
When he arrived at Machias, the men's team had compiled a record of 2-31 in recent years while the women's team had a mark of 2-28-2.
During his tenure at the Downeast school he led the men's squad to three consecutive playoff berths and back-to-back undefeated Sunrise Conference League Titles. Over the past four years, the team had improved to 38-28-1 while the women's squad was equally impressive, garnering four straight playoff appearances and a record of 37-25-5.
"Just from what I have seen, he has been a great leader and everyone I talk to loves to be coached by him," said sophomore keeper Giacomo Brunino, who followed Ball from Machias. "When he left Machias, we kept asking ourselves 'How are we going to replace someone like MJ?'"
While at Machias, Ball met Evans in 2001 at the Soccer Maine camp in Thomas. From there, they discussed the founding of a club for children to sharpen their soccer skills.
This led to the creation of Blackbear United, which has grown from three to 11 teams.
BBFC is headquartered out of Hampden and just recently purchased 32 acres in Hermon for their personal complex, which will allow them to host tournaments. The club has attracted players from as far north as Presque Isle.
"When it comes to teaching players, I think character says more than wins and losses, and I think that's one of the things I strive to impart in young players," Ball said. "I know it's an old cliché but 'it doesn't matter if you win or lose but how you play the game' is true. If you are being a dirt bag, you are going to pay the price but if you are an honest player, it says a lot."
Ball, who has been with the Black Bears since 2003, left to focus more on his Blackbear United Football Club. Despite his departure, Ball has said that he will help gaffer Travers Evans with the team next season.
"This was a great opportunity to move forward and a very good professional decision," Ball said. "For me, youth coaching is my passion and it's the development of a massive complex, which would be the first of its kind in the area.
"My main reason for leaving is that if I don't do this, no one else will."
Before coming to Orono, Ball had guided the men's and women's programs at the University of Maine-Machias.
When he arrived at Machias, the men's team had compiled a record of 2-31 in recent years while the women's team had a mark of 2-28-2.
During his tenure at the Downeast school he led the men's squad to three consecutive playoff berths and back-to-back undefeated Sunrise Conference League Titles. Over the past four years, the team had improved to 38-28-1 while the women's squad was equally impressive, garnering four straight playoff appearances and a record of 37-25-5.
"Just from what I have seen, he has been a great leader and everyone I talk to loves to be coached by him," said sophomore keeper Giacomo Brunino, who followed Ball from Machias. "When he left Machias, we kept asking ourselves 'How are we going to replace someone like MJ?'"
While at Machias, Ball met Evans in 2001 at the Soccer Maine camp in Thomas. From there, they discussed the founding of a club for children to sharpen their soccer skills.
This led to the creation of Blackbear United, which has grown from three to 11 teams.
BBFC is headquartered out of Hampden and just recently purchased 32 acres in Hermon for their personal complex, which will allow them to host tournaments. The club has attracted players from as far north as Presque Isle.
"When it comes to teaching players, I think character says more than wins and losses, and I think that's one of the things I strive to impart in young players," Ball said. "I know it's an old cliché but 'it doesn't matter if you win or lose but how you play the game' is true. If you are being a dirt bag, you are going to pay the price but if you are an honest player, it says a lot."
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