When a new season kicks off in the fall, the Brock Badgers men's soccer team will be led by a familiar face.
Jordan Cardinale, who spent last season as an assistant coach in the program, was announced as the new head coach on Monday, May 12.
"Jordan has an extensive background in soccer, with a proven track record of technical excellence and commitment to mentoring our student-athletes both on and off the field," said Courtney Smith, Associate Director, Brock Sports. "His on-field expertise as well as his connections within the soccer community will help us expand the profile and programming of Brock soccer here in the Niagara community and beyond."
With his experience with the Badgers, Cardinale knows this position fits well with both his coaching and personal values.
"Being named head coach of Brock University's men's soccer program is both an incredible honour and a milestone in my coaching journey," Cardinale said. "This opportunity aligns seamlessly with my philosophy, emphasizing the importance of building strong, trust-based relationships as the foundation for each athlete's experience."
Cardinale's 15 years of coaching across various levels of Canadian soccer has led him to a recruiting and coaching philosophy that focuses on the person first and the player second.
"I've learned that the most impactful coaching is built when environments of trust, empathy and care meet opportunity," Cardinale said. "Rather than narrowly defining 'high performance' by results or elite outcomes, we focus on understanding each player's unique journey and creating processes and pathways that respect where they are at both on and off the pitch."
When emphasizing staff and player development, Cardinale understands the need to have a "meet them where they are" mindset.
His recent stint as Oakville Soccer Club's high performance manager, where he helped develop players, coaches and match officials, helped him cultivate this belief.
"I believe that a truly high performance culture is one where opportunity is not earned by privilege, but created through thoughtful, empathetic, and strategic investment in people," he said. "When creating individualized development plans, we want to be as flexible as possible while emphasizing balance, well-being, and confidence as much as technical or tactical excellence."
As Cardinale looks toward the start of the season, he reflects on the lessons learned from his coaching career, which is grounded in his unwavering commitment to developing the whole athlete.
"Excellence isn't just about what players do on the field but how they're nurtured off it," he added. "My job as a coach is to meet their ambition with structure, empathy and unshakeable belief in their potential."
