Park Ridge’s Dave Schneider has retired after 11 seasons coaching the Owls’ girls soccer program. Former assistant coach Molly Jaffe, in her second year with Park Ridge, has been promoted to replace him.
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BY J.J. CONRAD / Record Sports
Park Ridge’s Dave Schneider has called it a career after 43 years in the coaching world.
The longtime girls soccer coach has retired, one year after leading the Owls to a 17-1-2 record and a fourth straight league championship.
He oversaw the program for the past 11 years and guided Park Ridge to a 70-10-3 overall record in the past four, including a 49-1-2 mark in division play.
“I’ve gotten a little too busy with my other occupation,” said Schneider, who does home-schooling and tutors for children. “It became too much for me to handle.”
Schneider’s departure opened the door for last year’s assistant coach Molly Jaffe to take over the program. This season will be Jaffe’s first girls soccer head coaching position.
Originally from West Caldwell, Jaffe played at Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y. She was a head coach of a varsity cross-country team and assistant varsity soccer coach in Virginia prior to joining Park Ridge.
“I think she is going to continue the Park Ridge tradition,” said Schneider, who also coached at Passaic and Bergenfield prior to his 11-year stint with Park Ridge. “She’ll keep it simple. She’ll have the team in good shape. And they’ll play tough, team soccer under her.”
