John Pardini was named an assistant coach on the Elon University women's soccer staff in 2013 and just completed his fifth season with the program in 2017.
In his five seasons with the Phoenix, the women’s soccer program has made massive strides and has shown improvement despite having to go through a transition in conferences.
Elon finished with a 9-6-4 record during her second season in 2017. Despite a tough schedule, the squad went 7-2-1 in the non-conference segment. The Phoenix matched a program record with five players receiving conference postseason honors in the same season, which included the program's first-ever CAA Rookie of the Year in freshman Meredith Christopher. She also became the program's first major award winner since the Phoenix joined the CAA in 2014. The native of Fort Mill, S.C., led all league players in overall points with 22 on the season scoring seven goals and eight assists. Additionally, Kendall Ballotti earned All-CAA Second Team honors, while Grace Bennett and Christopher were both named All-CAA Third Team. The program also had three freshmen named to the 10-player CAA All-Rookie Team as Christopher, Reena Wichmann, and Hannah Doherty all were selected. Elon had the most All-Rookie selections in the league and had the most in one season by a CAA program since 2013. Adding to the list of accolades for Elon during the 2017 season, Christopher and junior forward Tori Baliatico earned CAA Player of the Week honors during the season. Additionally, Christopher and Wichmann each were recognized with Rookie of the Week honors.
The Phoenix finished the 2016 campaign with a 7-9-3 overall mark against a difficult schedule which included three opponents that made the NCAA Championships and five that at least made the finals of their respective conference championships. The program continued its substantial improvement in the CAA, doubling their point total in conference play from 2015 and nearly tripling their total from the program's inaugural CAA season in 2014. Elon had three players receive CAA postseason honors, which included the program's first All-CAA First Team selection in junior center back Kendall Ballotti. One of Neal's players made the CAA All-Rookie Team for the third consecutive season and senior Alexis de Groot earned a spot on the All-Academic team. The maroon and gold had two freshmen, goalkeeper Katelyn Fowler and Taylor Paradoski, earn conference Rookie of the Week awards.
The Phoenix improved its play defensively in 2016 forcing a total of six overtime games, including four during the conference season. Elon also posted three CAA shutouts, which ranked second in the league. In addition to strong play from the back line, Fowler finished second in the CAA in goals against average (0.78) in five games played.
During the 2015 season, which saw a conference record four CAA teams make the prestigious NCAA Tournament, the Phoenix showed significant improvement in Elon’s second season in the league. Elon finished with a 9-8-2 overall record after recording a 5-12 record overall in 2014. Elon's final national ranking in the Bennett Rankings increased by over 70 spots in comparison to the 2014 season and the team's RPI soared over 40 spots as well in 2015. Offensively, Elon scored 12 more goals, conceded 15 less goals, had a goal differential swing of 27 goals, and created 110 more shots created compared to the 2014 season.
Pardini assisted in helped the maroon and gold to one of its best seasons in program history during his first season in 2013, as the Phoenix finished the year with a 13-3-6 record and its first ever appearance in the Southern Conference Championship match. Elon’s 13 wins marked the most during the school’s Division I era, while also marking the team’s fifth-straight winning season. The Phoenix also entered the NSCAA Southeast Regional rankings for the first time in school history, finishing the season ranked 10th among ACC powers such as Virginia, Florida State, North Carolina, Virginia Tech Notre Dame, Duke, Boston College, Wake Forest and Maryland. Elon scored in every contest in 2013, another program first, netting a total of 56 goals (third nationally) in 22 matches. Elon had five players garner all-league accolades, including 2013 Southern Conference Player of the Year, Nicole Dennion. As only a sophomore, Dennion set Elon’s Division I single-season goals record with 15. Elon’s RPI soared as high as 74th (out of 327 teams) in 2013 as well. Elon’s senior class finished the 2013 season with 40 wins, the most by a senior class during Elon’s Division I era. Neal ended the year with a career record of 60-41-22.
Head coach Chris Neal named Pardini an assistant coach on his staff prior to the 2013 season. "I am very happy to have John joining the team," said Neal. "He will be involved in all phases of our program. John's experience as a player and coach make him a perfect fit for us."
During his first season with the Phoenix, Pardini was also the head varsity boys' soccer coach at Western Alamance High School. Just prior to joining the Elon staff, he was named the Mid-State 3A Coach of the Year in 2011 and 2012 and the Region 6 Coach of the Year in 2011.
A native of Smithtown, N.Y., Pardini was a standout defender on the Fordham University men's soccer team from 2005-08, earning first-team All-Atlantic 10 Conference honors in 2007 and 2008. A 2008 candidate for the M.A.C. Herman Trophy, Pardini was also a three-time NSCAA All-Mid-Atlantic Region selection and a two-time team MVP. Pardini earned a bachelor's degree in history in 2008 and a masters of science in teaching adolescent social studies from Fordham in 2010.
"I am very excited to be joining Elon's exceptional women's soccer program and elite coaching staff this coming fall," Pardini said after being hired in 2013. "I hope to assist with the team's continued success as one of the top programs in the conference."
Following a successful collegiate career, Pardini also played professionally for the Long Island Rough Riders of the USL Premier Development League from 2008-10. In 2006, Pardini was also named the Player of the Year for the U-20 Red Bull New York squad.
Pardini married the former Charlotte Bryant in June of 2016 and they currently reside in Mebane, N.C.
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