JAMESTOWN, NY – You cannot discuss Jamestown Community College (JCC) men's soccer without starting with head coach Pat Anderson, who will hang up his whistle at the end of his 17th season guiding the Jayhawks on to the pitch and beyond.

"We (JCC) are blessed to have had Coach Anderson lead the men's soccer team for nearly two decades," said JCC athletic director George Sisson. "I am extremely thankful for the commitment he has made to grow the program to its level of play today. JCC competes in the most competitive region in the country with at least five colleges nationally ranked year in and year out," he added.

"Pat's influence on JCC soccer is immeasurable," mentioned former Jayhawk player and assistant coach Jesse de Costa. "His disciplined, player-first approach has built a program defined by consistency and care. The enduring relationships he maintains with former players speak volumes—every one of them holds him in the highest regard, a testament to his character and leadership," he said.

It's difficult to outweigh those words with stats, but Anderson certainly excelled there too. During the 17 seasons, his Jayhawks team has qualified for the Region 3 playoffs 12 times, reaching the regional semifinals eight times, with one regional finals appearance. Anderson was able to field 34 All-Region players and 22 All-Conference players and has been named the Region 3 coach of the year twice.

While most coaches are measured by their wins and losses, Anderson's most impactful contributions to JCC could be two factors beyond the pitch: one, during his tenure, close to 100 men's soccer players have earned All-Academic accolades.

"Truthfully, in college athletics the first place we look for success shouldn't just be the record books. Pat's student-athletes excelled in the classroom as much as, if not more than, on the field. He's sent dozens of Jayhawks to four-year programs, and that takes much more than goals and assists," said Sisson.

Anderson's legacy at JCC also includes integrating hundreds of international students into his team and welcoming them into his personal nest along with his wife, Carol, and his family, who have supported him and the Jayhawks from day one.

"Pat has become more than a coach to me—he's family. His mentorship and belief in me opened doors I never thought possible, including the opportunity to come to the United States. I am eternally grateful for his guidance, and I can't imagine where my life would be without him," mentioned de Costa.

"Pat's greatest accomplishment at JCC could be the way he takes kids from all over the world and transforms them into men ready to leave the nest, and soccer is just the canvas he uses to mold their emotional and physical clay," added Sisson.

Those kids, now men, couldn't agree more.

"Coach Pat gave so many of us international students the opportunity to play and study in the US and allowed us to go further past JCC once again. He didn't just prepare us for the pitch but also as individuals ready to take on whatever we faced. I'm very grateful to have had the chance to play under him, and I'm sure everyone around the community and in the NJCAA will miss seeing Coach Pat on the sidelines," said Michael Gilbert, class of 2025.

"Coach Pat gave me, as the first Northern Irish JCC soccer player, the opportunity to experience the US college system, an experience I will forever be in debt to him for. From the first day of my freshman year to the final day of my sophomore year, I was met with the same warmth and welcome into the soccer office. I was fortunate enough to have many conversations on and off the field with Coach Pat about countless things. To this day we still are in contact, a contact I am extremely grateful for. I cannot thank Pat enough for having taken a chance on me and allowed me to perform on the field and in the classroom to get to where I am at now," said Alex Watt, class of 2024.

"As an international student-athlete on the JCC men's soccer team, Coach Pat was one of the first people who made Jamestown feel like home. He cared about us not just as players, but as people adjusting to a new culture and environment. His leadership and understanding helped me grow both on and off the field. Coach Pat's impact on my life and on JCC men's soccer will be felt for a long time," said Dan Towell, class of 2025.

"Sir Pat Anderson has been a huge asset to me these two years. He was an incredible coach who could always see the bigger picture. He's one of the most rational people I've ever been fortunate to meet, and on top of that, his intelligence is off the charts. He's such a smart man, and I'm so grateful I caught a glimpse of his career and got to learn so much from him on and off the pitch," said JCC sophomore Shane Bennett.

JCC's last regular season home game will take place Wednesday, October 15th, when they host Finger Lakes Community College at 2:00 PM. The Jayhawks have a tribute to coach Anderson planned during pregame.