After 29 seasons with the Seattle University men’s soccer program, Pete Fewing has stepped down as head coach. Former Associate Head Coach Nate Daligcon will take over the head coaching role, and he has big shoes to fill. Fewing, however, will not be leaving Seattle U, as he is currently transitioning into his new role as Associate Athletic Director. 

In his new position, Fewing is looking forward to helping the coaches grow their programs and believes that Seattle U athletics can be a valuable asset to the university and the broader Seattle community. He listed his connection with the athletes as another reason why he chose to stick around. 

“I see what happens from our student-athletes and where they end up,” Fewing said. “I want to see them continue to grow.” 

In his nearly three decades of coaching at Seattle U, Fewing has watched many young players grow up and mature. Off the field, he has seen them step into new roles and thrive in their careers. Fewing started coaching at Seattle U when he was 24 years old, and he remarked on his privilege to have former players who are currently in their 50s.

“They matured and turned into great husbands [and] fathers,” Fewing said. “Their partners have [become] family as well. Their children have become [my] grandkids.” 

Reflecting on their time with Fewing, Senior Defender Rory King along with Graduate Student Midfielders Richard Bedats and Jesse Ortiz agreed that he helped the team better themselves on and off the field. 

“I think he really helped everyone mature from a young 18-year-old,” King said.

As the transition continues, the players and Fewing have full faith in Daligcon and his abilities. 

“He’ll be excellent,” Fewing said. “He cares about the team, cares about the players. He understands what college soccer is about. He’s definitely the right guy for the job, in my opinion.”

Bedats, King and Ortiz also see Daligcon’s ability to connect with the players as an opportunity for success. They mentioned that he does a good job of building a relationship with the players and giving them the information needed to improve.  The players believe that Daligcon’s tactical and detail-oriented mind, as well as his experience as a collegiate-level player, will help the team prosper. 

“Coach [Daligcon] has a lot of knowledge for the game,” Ortiz said. “He’s won national championships, so he knows how to get to that stage of tournaments and competitions.” 

In addition to his experience, the players noted his love for soccer.

“He loves it more than anyone I think I’ve ever met,” King said. “He knows just about everything about the game, and I know that every player on the team respects it a lot.”

Now that he can no longer play soccer, Daligcon’s joy is watching players feel passionate about what they do. Stepping into his new role, Daligcon wants to ensure that the players continue to have the goal of a national championship in mind while understanding they cannot skip steps to get there. His calm demeanor and ability to connect with the players will play a role in the team’s path to success.

“I have a lot of trust in the players,” Daligcon said. “They’re the ones that go onto the field. What we as a coaching staff are going to try to do is give them a framework but also let [their] creativity come out as well.”

Daligcon feels as though his decade of experience under Fewing has prepared him well for his new role. In various situations as Associate Head Coach, he said that he would often think about what he would do as head coach. Through it all, his priority has remained the team.  

“To me, it comes back to the relationship with the players,” Daligcon said. “If the players can trust you and respect you, then you’re going to have a group that can go out and have that vision to step forward and win games.” 

Despite the change at the helm of the team, it’s clear the high expectations for Seattle U men’s soccer haven’t shifted. After an offseason of preparation, the team will get back on the pitch next fall under Daligcon’s stewardship.