Pellissippi State has hired Abe Tizaf as its new head men’s soccer coach, effective Feb. 16.
Tizaf comes to Pellissippi State after spending a season as an assistant coach at Young Harris College in Georgia and five seasons as head coach at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in Indiana. He was instrumental in establishing the school’s men’s soccer program and was named Coach of the Year by the United States Collegiate Athletic Association in 2019.
The new coach said he will pursue success on the field, but also “foster a culture of integrity, teamwork and academic achievement.”
Tizaf is a former professional soccer player with KACM in Marrakech, Morocco, and also served as an international admissions counselor at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College. He also will be serving Pellissippi State as a student success coordinator in the college’s Stay Strong Success Center, which helps students navigate the many transitions and challenges they may encounter during their college experience.
He has advanced degrees in leadership development, physical education – coaching soccer, and recreation and sport management. He is a member of the Faith-Based Coaches Strategy Team, emphasizing the integration of soccer with one’s spiritual life.
Athletics Director Brock Evans said Coach Tizaf stood out from the very beginning as a top-notch candidate to lead the men’s soccer team. The Pellissippi State Panthers men’s soccer team finished its inaugural season with a record of 11-3-2.
Information and quotes provided by Pellissippi State Community College.