BREMERTON — Peninsula College men’s soccer coach Andrew Chapman has a new job as the head coach of the Kitsap Pumas, a Premier Development League team based in Bremerton.
This new gig won’t prevent him from leading the Pirates as they attempt to win a third consecutive NWAACC championship in the fall.
“Still staying at PC, just adding to my fun,” Chapman wrote in an email Friday.
Chapman was promoted from assistant coach of the Pumas, a position he served in last year and from 2009 to 2010. He also is the team’s general manager.
He takes over for James Ritchie, who resigned this week to become an assistant coach with Oklahoma City Energy FC, a United Soccer League team that is an affiliate of Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City.
Chapman becomes the club’s fourth coach in its sixth year of existence.
“This is a big honor to be asked to coach the Pumas,” Chapman said in a news release.
“[Owner] Robin Waite has tremendous faith in me and the great coaching staff we have assembled.
“Being born and raised in Bremerton, it is fantastic to be able to coach this team. We have a lot of enthusiastic people willing to help and some great ideas already in the works about how to move forward.”
The Premier Development League regular season runs from May to July, so Chapman will be able to devote plenty of time to preparing for Peninsula’s 2014 season, which begins in August.
In his 11 seasons with the Pirates, Chapman has led Peninsula to three NWAACC championships, all in the last four seasons, and nine straight trips to the playoffs, six Final Four appearances and six West Division titles.
[Editor’s Note: Updated to correct the Peninsula College team Andrew Chapman coaches.]