Bio

John Abbott College’s Sports and Recreation department is pleased to announce that Grant Needham has been chosen as the new men’s soccer head coach. Grant comes in with an incredible knowledge of the game as a high-level soccer player (Canadian National team, FC Supra and the Montreal Impact), as a coach (St. Lazare, Lakeshore and Pierrefonds soccer clubs, Concordia University) and as an administrator (KISsoccer and Sporting Director for Pointe-Claire Soccer). A John Abbott alumnus, the college’s soccer program holds a special place for Grant and he wants to see it return to its past glory days.

A 2007 Montreal Impact Hall of Fame inductee in the Builder category, Grant wants to develop players on the field to improve their abilities but also develop them as students and citizens on the school campus and in the classroom. “Our job is to prepare the student- athletes to play at this level as well as prepare them for the next phases of their life.”

Athletics Manager Patrice Lemieux commented on the hiring saying; “Grant is an amazing addition to our men’s soccer program. We are very excited to have him come home to his Islanders family, and we look forward to the beginning of a new era for our men’s soccer program. Grant’s passion and love for the sport of soccer is contagious and I know he will be a positive influence for our student-athletes.”

Grant’s coaching staff will include two very experienced assistant coaches in Joe Araujo and Vince Gidari. Gidari comes from the Laval region and he has coached at numerous levels. Meanwhile, Araujo has coaching experiences with the St Lazare and Lakeshore soccer clubs