Calpa Named MCC Women’s Soccer Coach

MANCHESTER, Conn. – Alexander (Alex) Calpa, a former player and assistant coach at Manchester Community College, has been named women’s soccer coach at his alma mater, Director of Athletics Cynthia Wasburne announced Thursday.

“We are delighted to have Alex back as a part of the MCC family,” Washburne said. “He made a long-lasting impression on me as a player and assistant coach. He lives for soccer and has what it takes to be a successful coach at this level. I have no doubt that Alex will build our program to one of the elite in New England.”

“I feel very happy the school is comfortable in hiring me for this position,” Calpa said. “It’s good because I’m now able to give something back to the school. I hope to bring the women’s soccer program to the highest level so people can come here like me and develop the love for the game of soccer.

“My long-term goal for this program is to be nationally-ranked and to play for an NJCAA national title. I also want the players to develop skills so they can move on to four-year colleges and maybe take the next step to the pros also. I want MCC women’s soccer to be as respected as a Division I soccer program.”

Calpa, an East Hartford resident, was a midfielder/back for the MCC men’s soccer team from 1999-2000.
He served as a player/assistant coach under then-first-year coach Jim Insinga in 2000 as the Cougars reached the Division III Region XXI finals that season. Calpa remained on Insinga’s staff as an assistant for the next three seasons.

MCC went 38-28-3 in Calpa’s four years as an assistant, including 16-6-0 in 2002 on a team that reached the NJCAA Division III Final Four. He was the assistant boys soccer coach at RHAM High School in 2004 (10-8).

Calpa started kicking around a soccer ball at age 1 in the streets of his native Cali, Colombia. He immigrated with his family to Hartford at age 10 and moved to Manchester at age 15. He played for three seasons on the Manchester High School football team as a flanker and defensive back under coach Mike Masse and competed on various soccer travel teams.

The 29-year-old Calpa has been a clinician and coach for YMCA-Vernon, Ellington Parks and Recreation and the Ellington Women’s Soccer League since 2000.

Calpa replaces Jean Insinga, who resigned after five seasons on Nov. 17. Insinga went 7-21 at Manchester Community College in three varsity seasons, including 5-9 in 2004. MCC had a club program in 2000 and no team in 2003 due to state budget uncertainty.