Knighten brings leadership, unity

Despite the slow 0-3 start, the Southern University Lady Jaguars soccer team is experiencing, interim head coach John Knighten said he is still happy with the growth of the team, which is in its third season.
Knighten took over after the Lady Jaguars inaugural coach Rohan Naraine left after two seasons.
“I feel good about our record because we are making the progress that we need to make as a team,” Knighten said. “We are using the exhibition and preseason games to see what we need to do in order to win in SWAC.”
In lieu of Southern’s previous modest success, Knighten said he does not have intentions of trying to change or do things differently from Naraine but he does want to focus more on the each player as an individual.
“I’ve been around these girls and the only things we need to do is increase our commitment, increase our communication and increase our dedication which equals success, along with hard work” Knighten said. “The young ladies understand this and they want to improve because they know what they need to do in order to be successful.”
Knighten, originally from Baton Rouge and Southern alum, has coached soccer since 1976.
He is the president and founder of the Jaguar Soccer Club, a club that caters to approximately 200 boys and girls in the Baton Rouge area.
Knighten said he is focused on making sure that his players are well-rounded individuals that do not get caught up simply in soccer.
“Coach John is a coach that wants us to excel outside of soccer,” said sophomore goalie Ashley Stevenson. “He wants us to exceed in school and therefore gives us enough time to handle our studies. He knows us on a personal level and treats us not as his players but more so as his daughters.”
Knighten said bases his coaching on togetherness. He said the players should always work and play with their teammates in mind.
“Coach John has confidence in us and he has made the team more unified,” said freshman midfielder Khady Faty. “He has made us work together more. Everything we do in practice, we must do as a team, from picking up cones to sprinting around the field.”
Knighten said the soccer team has the potential and the skills to win the championship this season.
However, they need to work on their technical and passing skills. He also feels it is more important to work on the players and their approach to soccer, rather than just their game.
“My goal is to develop an individual through soccer so they can become a responsible young adult, in order to be able to face this real world with reality,” Knighten said.