Recruiting

Prospective soccer players: Please complete the online questionnaire. The information will be emailed to Head Coach David Santesteban.

Former San Jac Star Makes it Big

Soccer players of any age can gain inspiration from the tale of Dane Richards, a former star at San Jacinto College. There is little doubt that the Jamaican-born Richards and many of his peers dreamed one day of making it to the big stage. Well, Dane has done it.

Prior to the 2003 season, Richards might not have known exactly where Houston was on the map, but former San Jacinto College head coach Ben Hunter knew him. Hunter, who had developed quite a knack for recruiting players from Jamaica, brought Richards to San Jacinto College that season. The rest, as they say, is history.

The 2003 team, the last to play for the now retired Hunter, won 17 straight games before falling to Tyler in the Region XIV title game. Richards, displaying remarkable speed and ball handling skills, scored 20 goals that season. Playing for current head coach Dave Santesteban the following season, Richards scored 25 times, becoming the all-time career scorer at San Jac. Along the way, Richards guided the team to a third-place national finish.

Richards went on to lead Clemson University to the NCAA College Cup. After graduation, the New York Red Bulls drafted him in the second round of the 2007 amateur draft.

Now, the Montego Bay native is playing the sport professionally. The Red Bulls’ midfielder made his first professional start in April 2007 at Columbus and notched his first MLS point when he assisted on Clint Mathis' goal on April 15 against FC Dallas. Richards scored his first career MLS goal on May 5, 2007, against Real Salt Lake. As a rookie in 2007, Richards started 27 of 28 games played, finishing with two goals and six assists. He was a finalist for the 2007 MLS Rookie of the Year.

At 5-7, 153 pounds, Richards is a bit small to play forward in the pro league, but he made a quick transition to midfield and appears to be a fixture for many years to come.

“I knew Dane could do this,” Santesteban said. “In 2004, it didn’t take me long to see what type of player he was and what he could become. It’s a credit to his work ethic. It proves that if you do things right and believe, you have a chance to do whatever you like.”

Where Are They Now?

The opportunity for San Jacinto College soccer players to continue their education and playing careers at four-year institutions is real. Over the past four years, more than a dozen players have been invited to do just that at colleges and universities across the country. Here are the players who have moved on to compete at four-year programs:

2007

• Frazier Biba – Embry-Riddle, Arizona campus (NAIA)
• Emilio Frias – Southwest Assemblies of God (NAIA)
• Phillip Hagen – Tusculum University (D-II)
• Roy Hernandez – Texas A&M International (D-II)
• Corey McPhearson – Tusculum University (D-II)
• Caesar Vallejo – University of Texas – Dallas (D-III)
• Carlos Villa – University of Hartford (D-I)
• Leon Williams - University of San Francisco (D-I)
• Ricardo Ximines – Florida International (D-I)

2006

• Charles Hines – William Carey College (NAIA)
• Howard Wong – University of Hartford (D-I)
• Ruzdhi Halili – Houston Baptist University (D-I)
• Ardalan Attar – University of San Francisco (D-I)
• Derrick Henry – Belmont University (D-I)

2005

• Brandon Durden – Houston Baptist University (D-I)
• Erik Sorenson – DePaul University (D-I)
• Ryan Maxwell – University of Tampa (D-II)

2004

• Dane Richards – Clemson University (D-I)
• Juan Adan – William Carey College (NAIA)
• Ashkan Attar – Grand Canyon University (D-II)
• Luis Hernandez – Mercer University (D-I)
• Matt Tompkins – University of Philadelphia (D-I)
• Dao Vu – Houston Baptist University (D-I)
• Jeremy Butterfield – University of Philadelphia (D-I)