By Steven M. Glassman
Director of Sports Information
February 17, 2022
JENKINTOWN, PA—John Dempster was promoted to Manor College Director of Athletics on this date in 2017.
Dempster was a Men's Soccer goalkeeper for the Blue Jays (1994-1995) and member of the 1995 Eastern Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (EPCC) League and Postseason Tournament Championship team. He graduated from Manor with an Associate's Degree in 1996. Dempster began his Blue Jays' coaching career as the Men's and Women's Soccer Goalkeeper Coach in 2000. He then spent eight seasons as the Men's Soccer Assistant Coach (2002-2009). Dempster shared the 2007 EPCC Coach of The Year Award.
He has been Manor's Men's Soccer Head Coach since 2010. As Manor's Men's Soccer Head Coach, Dempster has coached 173 overall matches at the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) Division I and National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division I and III levels (including 82 in NJCAA Region XIX action). Including his NJCAA Assistant Coaching experience, he has coached 199 overall matches (including 107 in NJCAA Region XIX play) for the Blue Jays. Dempster was voted 2012 and 2013 Eastern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (EPAC) Division III Coach of The Year.
Altogether, sixteen of his soccer players went on to the NCAA since he was promoted to Head Coach in 2010. Dempster has coached a NJCAA Region XIX Division III Player of The Year. Nine of his players were voted All-Region XIX Division I and three voted to the Division III squad. Eight of his players were voted to the All-EPAC Division III team. He has coached an EPAC Division I and Division III Players of The Year. Ten of his players were named to the EPAC and USCAA Fall Semester All-Academic Teams since 2017. Three of his players have been voted All-Americans.
Dempster was on the NJCAA Region XIX Soccer Committee, serving as an EPAC Division I Representative from 2016 to 2020.
He has served as the emcee for Manor's Annual Student-Athlete Awards since 2017.
Since Dempster was named Director of Athletics, Manor has added seven varsity programs (Baseball and Men's and Women's Cross Country in 2018 and Men's and Women's Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field in 2019). Women's Soccer was reinstated in 2017 after a three-season absence. Furthermore, Manor was accepted in the USCAA in July, 2020 after spending the previous 12 in the NJCAA. Eight of the sports (Baseball and Men's and Women's Basketball, Cross Country and Soccer and Women's Volleyball) are competing in the USCAA. In the Fall, 2021, Dempster helped form the Eastern Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (ESAC). Bucks County Community College, Central Pennsylvania College, and Williamson College of the Trades are ESAC members.
In addition to his coaching and administrative positions, Dempster worked in the Manor's Admissions Office from 2000 through 2017.
He received an award at the Manor College 2020 Employee Service Awards Ceremony for his 20 years of dedicated service.
The following below is an interview with Dempster:
How did you find out about Manor in high school?
"When I was in [Abraham Lincoln] High School, the [Manor College] Men's Soccer coach (at the time) Bill Crowley gave me a call and the rest is history."
Why did you choose to enroll at Manor?
"I knew a few people that were attending and that made my decision a little easier, but what I really sold it for me was the college itself. I loved the way it was laid out, it was small and the instructors were so nice to me."
What is your definition of leadership?
"I am more of a Servant Leader. I believe in a people-first mind-set."
Why did you become a coach?
"I was always inspired by coaching. I always was looking into learning more about the mental side of sports. I would always pick the brain of my High School soccer coach Mr. Rich Patton and a guy I coached with in the beginning of my career Bill Snyder. I truly believe that being a part of a team is the glue that binds your life's decisions."
What was it about coaching that appealed to you?
"I love shaping young minds, sharing what I've learned from my former coaches and adding my guidance to win."
Who are your Coaching and Administrative mentors?
"As I mentioned earlier Mr. Richard Patton, Bill Snyder, and who could forget Rich Casey. All of these men have shaped the type of coach and person I am today."
What are some of the leadership lessons and advice you implement as a Director of Athletics and Head Coach?
"My advice as the Director of Athletics is to enjoy and take part in every sport offered, promote and show the players how important they are. As a coach, I would say be humble and don't take anything for granted when it comes to college sports, you only get four years and believe me, it goes by fast!"
What is it like to see a student-athlete that you recruited as a coach and see them succeed at Manor and after Graduation?
"For me, that is what it's all about. Once you're a Blue Jay, you're always a Blue Jay. So many of our athletes have gone on and got great jobs and have beautiful families."
Within your first five years as a Director of Athletics, you nearly tripled the amount of Manor's Athletics programs and joined the USCAA and ESAC after 12 years in the NJCAA and eight in the EPAC. What are your plans and goals in the next five?
"I would like to continue to grow in sports offered and championships won. The ultimate goal would be to put the right things in place to become a member of the NCAA."
Manor Athletics on Social Media:
Instagram: manor_athletics.
Twitter: @manorbluejays.
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