One alum replaces another as Evergreen men's soccer coach

by Evergreen Communications Office
March 7, 2006

OLYMPIA -- Less than a week after Tom Boatright announced his resignation as men's soccer coach at The Evergreen State College, the Geoducks have announced that long-time South Puget Sound Community College coach John Purtteman has been hired to fill the position.

"This was the easiest hire we have made since I have been at Evergreen," said sixth-year athletics director Dave Weber. "Like Tom and our women's coach, Erik Gibson-Snyder, John is another graduate of the great Geoduck teams coached by Arno Zoske and he's proven himself in a decade of college coaching at SPSCC."

Purtteman, who coached the Clippers from 1992-95 and from 2000-2005, led SPSCC to within a game of the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges championship in 2004 with a 13-4-3 record - the same year Boatright took Evergreen to the Elite Eight of the NAIA National Championships.

Twice Evergreen's MVP while playing two seasons each for Willie Lippmann and Zoske from 1981-84, Purtteman went on to play professionally for the Portland Pride, Seattle Seadogs, Florida Thundercats and Denver Thunder. He was twice named to the Continental Indoor Soccer League all-star team.

In addition to his new duties at Evergreen, Purtteman serves as coaching director of the South Sound Select youth program and owns the Golden Goals residential soccer camp in Union, along Hood Canal.

"One of goals for all our sports programs at Evergreen is for them to become a contributing member of the local community, on and off the field," said Weber. "John is integrated into the soccer community here already at all levels. The philosophy he brings to his camps, the Select program and his college teams is very positive and growth-oriented for each athlete.

"An obvious goal is for our team to continue winning its share of matches and John has proven he can do that at the college level. He should be able to make the most of the momentum Coach Boatright  -who led the Geoducks into regional play each of the last two seasons - created."

At least some members of Boatright's staff are expected to remain as assistants to Purtteman, who will begin recruiting immediately.