A Legacy Concludes: Talerico Bids Farewell to SAIT Head Coaching Role

CALGARY, ALTA. (November 17^th, 2025) – After years of dedication and success, the SAIT Trojans Athletics and Recreation Department has announced that women’s soccer and futsal head coach John Talerico will be stepping down — a moment that marks the end of an unforgettable era for the program.

Talerico, who has led the women’s soccer team since 2015, struggled to keep his emotions in check as he broke the news to his team following their final game at the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) Women’s Soccer Championship on Oct. 26.

“It was really hard; at first, I thought I can do this but man oh man, it was hard choking back the tears,” Talerico recalled with a tremble in his voice. “I had to stop a few times to compose myself. It was a lot harder than I thought.”

As for how his team took the news?

“There were a lot of tears, let’s put it that way,” he added.

With jersey sleeves still damp from wiping away those tears, the conversation turned from sorrow to sincere appreciation.

“When John told us he was stepping down, we were heartbroken. The entire locker room started crying,” said Trojans co-captain, Meagan Wiebe, who played five seasons for Talerico. “It was bittersweet. We were all sad but also incredibly grateful to him for building a team culture that really did feel like family. It’s hard to put into words the impact he has had on all of us.”

Talerico, 65, first joined the Trojans back in 2008 when he came on board with the men’s soccer team as an assistant coach under then head coach Grant Stevens. The two then took on the women’s team as well in 2012.

In the fall of 2015, the decision was made to give the women’s side their own head coach and Talerico landed the job. Since then, he has turned around a Trojans women’s soccer program that has struggled to find consistency, winning just two ACAC medals since joining the conference in 1992 – gold in 2002 and bronze in 1992.

Under Talerico’s leadership SAIT has gone an impressive 87-16-5, winning ACAC gold medals in 2021 and 2023 and ACAC silver medals in 2018 and 2024. In 2021, they also went on to win a Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National Championship bronze medal.

“You mean I could have stuck around for a bit longer and gotten to 100 wins,” Talerico said with a laugh when told of his career record. “To be honest, I am very happy with what I have done and I believe it will continue to grow.”

In 2022, SAIT joined the ACAC’s futsal league and Talerico’s numbers indoors became even more impressive – going a near flawless 27-0-2 in four seasons of regional play, and winning ACAC gold medals in 2022, 2024 and 2025, and a silver medal in 2023.

“Coach Talerico has been the steady heart and driving force behind the transformation of our women’s soccer program since taking the helm in 2015,” said Lauren Kucera, SAIT’s Manager of Athletics and Recreation. “His leadership and unwavering commitment to excellence have built a foundation that will support our program for years to come. The respect and admiration his players have for him speak volumes about the impact he’s made both on and off the field. We are extremely excited for what’s to come for this program, but we will always miss having John at the helm.”

Talerico doesn’t take all the credit for the success, however. He gladly concedes that had it not been for SAIT’s evolution in programs offered, he’s not sure how things would have turned out.

“The four-year Business Administration degree was really helpful, but also the growth and visibility of all the medical programs have been a huge push for us when it came to recruiting,” he said. “For that, I am really thankful.”

Despite stepping down as head coach, Talerico says he will still find his way to Cohos Commons Field, as he will still play a role behind the scenes, focusing on recruiting and managerial tasks.

“Coach Talerico’s hard work and dedication have left a lasting mark on our women’s soccer program, giving those student-athletes who played for him experiences and memories they will carry proudly as SAIT Trojans for the rest of their lives,” said Wade Kolmel, SAIT’s Director of Athletics and Recreation. “For that, we are extremely thankful.”