With one of its largest senior classes in years, the Penn women's soccer team is poised for a run at the Ivy League title this season. And coach Darren Ambrose has added a veteran assistant coach to go along with this veteran team.
Mick Statham has joined the staff from just down the road at Philadelphia University, where he also served as an assistant coach.
"The biggest thing for me I think was that these players are true student-athletes," Statham said. "The words 'student athletes' get thrown around so much for college kids. Some schools are more 'student-athlete' than others.
"I was left with no doubt that this school takes its sports and its academics very seriously- It's such a nice blend of very serious students, which is why I believe you should come to college. But in season, this program is just as serious as everyone else."
It was this blend of soccer and academics that brought Statham to this country in the first place.
A native of Manchester, England, he was signed at the age of 14 by the Blackburn Rovers as an associate schoolboy, meaning that he was still in school at the time. He was with the Rovers from 1983 to 1987 before taking a job as an assistant coach with Bury, an English third division club.
It was at Bury that he came into contact with a coach from Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire, which offered Statham a scholarship to play soccer for the Division II school.
Statham led Franklin Pierce to three Division II tournament appearances in four years, and graduated in 1992 with a degree in communications. He also met his wife, Kelly, there with whom he has three kids.
Statham seemed pleased with his transition into the Quakers family thus far.
"The team's been really welcoming," he said. "It's made it really easy to come in and feel like I've been a part of the team for a long time even though I haven't been here for very long."
The good feeling between Statham and the players seems to be mutual. When asked about their new assistant coach, many of the Quakers responded enthusiastically, explaining that Statham and his more laid-back personality are a natural compliment to Ambrose.
Statham agrees.
"Naturally, I think that head coaches are at a higher stress level than assistant coaches," Statham said. "Hopefully, I can bring in a perspective of patience and looking at things a bit differently.
Certainly, Statham brings a wealth of experience, having lived soccer for nearly his whole life.
Recently, Statham served as an assistant coach for the Philadelphia Charge of the now defunct Women's United Soccer Association.
"I think my knowledge of the game and the stage I'm at in my career now is one of such that I'd put it up against most people's."
Given the stage that the core of Penn's players are at, Statham believes that they match up favorably with any other squad in the Ivy League, and expects this season to include a championship run.
"Having 10 seniors, this is the biggest senior class the team has ever had," he said. "We have some excellent underclassmen. The team is no question good enough to win the Ivy League this year. Not that it isn't every year. But this year, with a lot of experience, we feel, and I know the players feel, that we're in position to do that more than in other years."
