Curling chair resigns in wake of soccer abuse investigation
by John PhelanJune 13, 2016 at 10:17 AM | Views: 17,329
The resignation of the longtime chair of the Rockford Optimist Club has created a vacancy that will see an additional day of training begin June 14, the date of the next scheduled full-season practice.
Rockford Youth Soccer Manager Jim Maroski told me earlier this month that the club is not sure who will be training with the team July 3, but Maroski says he has heard the Optimist Club Board would like to bring in someone with a high-level of experience to help with the team’s training at the city’s new training facility.
Maroski said the club would like to bring in a person who has worked for the US Men’s National Team, the Chicago Red Stars, or a collegiate program.
The loss of Bob Berardino, who coached for 20 years with the team, is a big loss. Berardino was one of the first people to get his kids involved in the youth soccer program. He also coached the team that won the State Championship in the late 90s.
“He wanted to bring the team to the next level,” Maroski said. “He was very proud of what this club has done. He’s a big part of what we were able to accomplish in the past.
“I’m sure he and the Board will go over and talk to who we might be interested in. I think it’s a bit too early to talk about who we might ask, because we still have a lot of stuff to figure out.”
Berardino, a father of three children ages 4, 9 and 11, said he will have to figure out what to do the next day or two. He said he’s a little bit nervous about the uncertainty.
“I’m trying to figure out what I am going to do with my kids and the club at this point,” he said. “I have three of my kids on the team, so I might have to leave the facility, so I’m trying to figure out a way to do it. Maybe I will come back and help with that afternoon practice.
“I have to figure that out tomorrow.”
Maroski said he