| Ron Preble - Coach | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ron was a standout student-athlete at Cosumnes River College and California State University, Sacramento. He achieved accolades such as All Nor-Cal , Pepsi Scholar Athlete, and Team MVP Overall (etc.). Ron was fortunate to play for such notable coaches as Travis Parker (Cosumnes River College), Dean Wurzberger (CSU, Sacramento) now at the University of Washington, and David Linenberger (CSU, Sacramento) formerly of University of South Carolina, Sparantanburg, Fresno State and United States Soccer Federation.
While playing at CSU, Sacramento, the team was ranked 11th in the nation and were unfortunate not to get the invitation to the post-season playoffs. Ron earned his Bachelors in Physical Education in 1991 form CSU, Sacramento. After college, Ron had a short stint with the Sacramento Senators in the Western Soccer League from 1988-1990, where he served first as an administrator for the team and then as a player before having a season ending injury. Ron started his collegiate coaching career in 1988 as an assistant to Travis Parker here at CRC. Ron then spent five years as an assistant to Head Coach, Michael Linenberger at CSU, Sacramento.
Ron returned to CRC in the fall of 1997 as an assistant to Travis Parker. In the spring of 1999, before serving as the CRC Interim Head Coach, Ron served as an assistant coach and then the Interim head coach and general manager for the Sacramento Geckos in the A-League, the Professional Division of the United Soccer Leagues.
In 2000 after completing his Masters Degree in Physical Education-Sports Management, Ron was fortunate to be hired to fill the full-time Head Coach position at CRC. Ron enters his year as the full-time Head Coach for the Hawks. After 20 years of dedication and devotion to youth soccer, Ron has stepped away from the youth ranks but will still have opportunities to work with youth players through the CRC Soccer camps and other youth projects.
The 2003 season was a breakout season for the Hawks, with four years of hard work and creating a CRC Soccer culture. The Hawks finished the 2003 campaign as State Finalists, No. 3 in the Nation, No. 1 in the State, No. 1 in Nor-Cal and a Conference Championship. The team received many other awards such as Player of the Year, Midfielder of the Year, and Attacker of the Year, Honorable Mention. Coach Preble was honored with BVC-Coach of the Year as well as Nor-Cal, one All California, one All Far-West, and one All-American. The fall of 2004 was another good campaign for CRC with another Conference Championship. The team received several awards including Goal Keeper of the Year, 5 All-Conference players, 2 Nor Cal players and 2 All-California players.
In 2005, Ron took over the head coaching duties for the Sacramento Knights of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL). In his first year at the helm of the Knights, the team had a very good year winning the 2005 NPSL Western League Championship but unfortunately had a little hick-up in the 2005 Western Final. The players vowed to come back better to prove themselves, feeling that they had much to prove in the 2006 season.
In 2006, CRC had a great year making it to the quarter finals of the State Championships. Several players played in the Sophomore Bowl during the Championship weekend. Several players were honored with Big 7 All-Conference selections, Attacking Players of the Year, and Coach of the Year honors. Several players form the from this group have gone on to 4 year programs from Division I to NAIA.
The 2006 Knight's season was a journey of renewal and determination for the players and coaching staff. The Knights had a few ups and downs with injuries and sickness along the way but persevered, showing team chemistry and strength. The Knights would go on the win the 2006 North West League Championship, the 2006 Western Division Championship, and the 2006 NPSL National Championship. The season Finale was an exhibition game against the MLS franchise Chivas USA. The game was a 2-2 draw with several 1st team players from Chivas USA playing in the match.
Ron and staff were honored by the NPSL with being the 1st NPSL All-Star Coaching staff to play against the Chivas USA organization from MLS. "The players from the NPSL were fantastic to work with. All they need is a few days of training to develop a little better familiarity with each other. They showed up and put in a competent performance against one of the best teams in MLS."