Fatai Ayoade
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Fatai Ayoade
Park University '88
116-75-12 (.601)
10th season at JCCC
fayoade@jccc.edu
Johnson County Community College men’s soccer coach Fatai Ayoade understands the word commitment and loyalty. For 10 years, Ayoade paced the sidelines as assistant coach to legendary coach Jim Schwab.
Ayoade had chances to advance his career. The job offers came and went, but Ayoade stayed put, knowing the right opportunity would come. So, when Schwab stepped down in the spring of 2000 to run the women’s program, the search began to find a coach who could continue the winning tradition at JCCC while taking the program to even greater heights. Johnson County did not have to look far for his replacement. As a loyal assistant to Schwab, Ayoade already had earned the sort of national respect usually reserved for head coaches.
“We are very excited to add a coach of Fatai’s quality to our tremendous roster of coaches,” said Johnson County athletics director Carl Heinrich after his hiring. “He is a person I believe has the ability to continue the soccer tradition at Johnson County Community College that was built by Dean Zagortz, Dan Daily and Jim Schwab.”
Ayoade entered his first campaign hoping history would repeat itself in the form of win totals he posted as an assistant (1990-1999) at JCCC. The Cavaliers won five Region VI titles, a district title, made the school’s only appearance in the NJCAA tournament, won 156 games and was ranked in the top 20 in the nation every year.
While not new the program, Ayoade had plans to inject a new system and new attitude, therefore, change was inevitable. Each new coaching staff champions its own philosophy of coaching, both fundamentally and psychologically.
With that, Ayoade set in place the foundation for Johnson County’s program under his direction. He favors a philosophy of hard work, both on and off the playing field. Ayoade places an emphasis on the student aspect of a student-athlete. Ayoade feels his philosophy and coaching style not only ensure his athletes success on the field, but in their lives following their JCCC experience.
“We ask our athletes to do three things: go to class, be on time and play and practice as hard as they can. If they can do that, they will be successful,” Ayoade said.
Now entering his 10th season as the Cavaliers head coach, Ayoade is regarded as one of the top coaches in the country. His numbers speak for themselves. Ayoade has led JCCC to two NJCAA Tournament appearances, more than any coach in the team’s history. In 2001, he guided his team to a third-place national finish. Three years later, he added a fifth-place finish to his resume'.
Additionally, he has guided four teams to region six title, and in 2004, he won the first Kansas Jayhawk Conference championship in team history. Overall, Ayoade has compiled a 116-75-12 record. He ranks second in all-time wins behind Schwab.
Honors have also come Ayoade way. Three times he has been selected the KJCCC/Region VI Coach of the Year. In 2001 and 2004, Ayoade was named the NSCAA/adidas Central Region Coach of the Year, and was a candidate for National Coach of the Year both seasons.
Ayoade’s players have also seen unbelievable success. In nine seasons as head coach, Ayoade has coached four NJCAA All-Americans, four NJCAA All-Tournament performers, two NSCAA All-Americans, 41 All-Region VI selections, and 29 Kansas Jayhawk All-Conference performers. Off the field, Ayoade has produced three NJCAA Academic All-Americans, and two athletes, Brian Wittenborn (2002) and Serkan Sener (2005) were selected as JCCC Outstanding Students.
From the outset, it was evident Ayoade would carry on the tradition of success, while establishing a legacy of his own. The Cavaliers finished with a winning mark of 12-9 and captured the Region VI title, the first for the program since 1996. Ayoade’s squad came just one victory away from making the program’s second national tournament appearance, falling to Meramec in the district final. For his efforts, Ayoade was named the Kansas Jayhawk Conference and NJCAA Region VI Coach of the Year. In addition, the 12 wins recorded by Ayoade in his inaugural season, match Schwab’s first-year total.
In 2001, Ayoade had his team running on all cylinders JCCC shutout nine opponents, and held another 12 to one goal. Offensively, Ayoade felt he had enough fire power to carry this team deep into playoffs, and that proved to be true. JCCC won both the region and district titles, and made the program’s second national tournament appearance. The Cavaliers went on to place third, the programs highest finish. JCCC posted wins over Meridian and College of DuPage. JCCC’s only loss was in the semifinal match to Bryant & Stratton, who went on to win the national title. The Cavaliers finished with a record of 19-4-3, and Ayoade earned KJCCC/Region VI and NSCAA/adidas Central Region Coach of the Year honors.
Seven years ago the JCCC men’s soccer team again proved to be one of the premier programs in the region and country, finishing 14-7 overall, but were an impressive 11-2 in the region. The Cavaliers nearly came away with his third consecutive Region VI title, falling to Barton County 1-0 in the Region VI Championship. With their success, the individual accolades poured in following the 2002 campaign. A record seven players were honored as All-Region VI performers, and Ayoade was selected the co-coach of the year.
Six seasons ago, JCCC again proved one of the premier teams in the conference and region, winning the inaugural East Jayhawk Conference title with a 9-1 record. The team finish the year with a mark of 14-8. Their season ended prematurely however, falling to Cloud County 1-nil in the Region VI semifinals. In accordance with the team’s regular season success, six JCCC individuals were honored as All-Region VI performers, the second highest total in team history.
Five years ago, Ayoade again led his squad to the NJCAA National Tournament, the second of his tenure. However, at one point the season looked bleak as the Cavaliers stood 3-10-1 in early October. JCCC won 11 straight games and along the way captured East Jayhawk Conference, Region VI and Plains District titles. The team capped the year placing fifth in national tournament, and finished 14-12-1. Two members of the team, Cole Copeland and Duane Kahler, were named to the All-Tournament team. One of the team’s leaders was Wittenborn Sener (Seko), who garnered NJCAA All-American, All-KJCCC and All-Region VI. In addition, Ayoade was selected the KJCCC/Region VI Coach of the Year, an honor he has previously earned two other times. He also garnered NSCAA Central Region Coach of the Year accolades.
In 2005, Ayoade guided JCCC to another Region VI title, knocking off nationally ranked and previously unbeaten Barton County in the title game. JCCC just missed making a second straight appearance at the National Tournament, falling in the District title game to Jefferson College, 1-0.
In 2006, JCCC finished a respectable 7-9-5, but their record did reflect how close their season could have been a banner year. The Cavaliers had five ties, the most in school history, and lost two overtime games. In the team’s other seven losses, five were one-goal setbacks.
In 2007, JCCC’s record again did not reflect the talent and dedication of the squad. The Cavaliers finished the season 6-13-2, but of their 13 losses, six were by one goal, and four by just two goals. Individually, two players received postseason recognition. Andy Howard earned all-conference accolades, while T.J. Nunemaker garnered all-region honors.
Last season, expectations were high and JCCC put together a solid regular season, battling to the end for the conference title. The Cavaliers tied for third with an 8-2-0 conference mark, and posted an overall season mark of 13-6-1. Individually, there were several standout performers. A total of nine earned all-conference and six garnered all-region honors. Addtionally, Michael Shadfar became the first male soccer player in team history to be selected as a NJCAA Player of the Week.
During his career as a collegiate assistant coach, Ayoade was instrumental in the recruiting effort that has brought in some outstanding talent to the Cavalier soccer program. In his 10 years as an assistant, Ayoade helped six players achieve NJCAA All-American and 43 earn All-Region VI honors. In addition, 10 former Cavaliers have been drafted or signed to professional contracts. Among them, Shawn Beyer, who was named to the NPSL All-Rookie team in 1998, and Ayoade’s assistant coach Carlos Olivas, who has played the last three years with the Kansas City Attack.
Aside from his recruiting accomplishments, Ayoade’s career includes the development of youth players, through his position as head coach for the Attack club team soccer in Kansas City. In fact, one season, Ayoade had four members on the JCCC squad who played for the Attack club team under his direction. With the help of those four, Ayoade guided his U-16 squad to a national tournament win in Las Vegas. Ayoade coached boys U-15 through U-18 and girls U-13 and U-14.
Before joining Johnson County, Ayoade was the leading scorer at State Fair Community College in Sedalia, Mo. After completing his studies at State Fair, Ayoade transferred to Park College, where he was named to the all-area and all-district first-teams. Following his collegiate career, Ayoade was selected to appear in the annual addition of the American College Athletics Hall of Fame. He earned his bachelor’s degree in computer-based information systems. Ayoade earned his masters of education in exercise, sports and science at the University of Kansas in 2005.
In 1988, Ayoade attempted to play professionally for the Kansas City Comets of the old MISL. Ayoade was one of the final cuts that season. In addition to his coaching duties, Ayoade serves as an adjunct associate professor in the JCCC physical education department. He is a fitness instructor in the Life Fitness Center, and teaches classes related to the game of soccer.
Ayoade, 46, is a native of Lagos, Nigeria. Ayoade and his wife Claudia have a four-year old son, Gavin, and a two-year old son, Cameron.