Cortland names Axtell interim coach
Steve Axtell has been named SUNY Cortland's men's soccer interim
head coach, according to director of athletics Mike Urtz. Axtell
replaces Dwight Hornibrook, who is leaving Cortland after eight
seasons to accept a position as major gift officer at Houghton
College. Hornibrook previously coached men's soccer at Houghton
from 1995-2003 before coming to Cortland.
Axtell has served as an assistant coach at Cortland the past two
seasons. He also was a volunteer student assistant coach during the
2007 season.
A goalie for the Red Dragons for three seasons (2006, 2008-09),
Axtell earned All-SUNYAC honors in 2008 and appeared in 39 career
games with nine shutouts. He earned a bachelor's degree in
kinesiology in 2008 and is currently pursuing a master's degree in
exercise science.
A native of Franklin, N.Y., Axtell holds an Advanced National
Diploma and an Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma from the
National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) with
Distinguished Pass and is a member of the NSCAA Goalkeeping Staff.
He is also a certified strength and conditioning specialist and has
received a conditioning for soccer diploma from the International
Coaches Association. Axtell is the founder and director of the One+
Goalkeeper Academy in Ithaca, N.Y., with programs in Elmira and
Oneonta and summer camps throughout the Northeast.
Besides assisting with both the men's and women's soccer programs
at Cortland, Axtell has served as the head coach of the Central
Region scholastic soccer team at the Empire State Games and the
WAZA FLO soccer club in Ithaca. He has also served as the
goalkeeper coach and the U16 girls' coach of Empire United of the
United States Youth Development Academy and acted as director of
soccer at Camp Winadu in Mass. for two years and Ithaca MicroSoccer
for one year. Currently, Axtell is head coach and Director of
Goalkeeping at the TCW Academy in Ithaca and an ODP Region One
staff member.
