Eastern Connecticut State University

Ja'Rice Manson returns to the staff of head coach Chris D’Ambrosio for the second season after spending the previous three years as assistant men’s soccer coach at Division III Mitchell College.

An East Hartford native, Manson served as recruiting coordinator at Mitchell, helping the Mariners to a 16-5-2 record in the Northeast Collegiate Conference under head coach Damian Houlden and to the 2017 tournament title and berth in the NCAA tournament.

Since 2013, Manson has been with the Sporting CT soccer club of Middletown, serving as academy director and as a senior staff coach.

Manson’s extensive experience also includes a seven-year stint as a boys’ and girls’ head coach for the Oakwood Soccer Club and as assistant coach with the boys’ programs at Glastonbury and Windsor high schools. In addition, he coached boys’ programs at Northeast United Premier and with the West Hartford travel program.

As a defender at East Hartford High, Manson was an All-CCC first-team selection, and later, a two-time NJCAA All-New England first team selection at Manchester Community College.