Coaching Staff

Dennis Grassini: Head Coach

Dennis Grassini begins his eighth year at the helm of the CCRI Women’s Soccer program having previously been the top assistant since the program’s inception in 1994. Grassini led the program to back to back National Tournament finalist appearances in 2002 and 2003. In 2002 he led the undefeated and untied (22-0-0) Lady Knights to their first NJCAA National Championship, the first ever in the forty-three year history of Athletics at the Community College of RI. For his efforts Grassini was named the NJCAA “Coach of the National Tournament” and National “Coach of the Year” by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). He was also named the 2002 Northeast Region “Coach of the Year” by NSCAA and the RI Words Unlimited “Woman’s Sport Coach of the Year”. In 2003 Grassini led his team back to the NJCAA National final game finishing as Runners-up. For his efforts he was named N.E. Region 21 “Coach of the Year” and was again named the RI Words Unlimited “Woman’s Sports Coach of the Year” for the second consecutive year. He was also again nominated for National Coach of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) . Previously, he was instrumental in guiding the program to three consecutive New England Regional Championships and three straight National NJCAA tournament appearances (1996-1998). Grassini has been involved in coaching for over twenty years and holds a national license from the United States Soccer Federation and NSCAA State and Regional Goalkeeping Diploma’s. He has served on various boards and committees throughout the Rhode Island youth soccer ranks and he currently coaches and volunteers for the RI Women’s Soccer League. He has also been a member of the New-England Region 21 coaches committee, and currently serves on the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Northeast Region and All-American committees. Grassini, along with his top Assistant Coach, Kathy Bannan has guided the woman’s soccer program to an impressive 108-19-3 record in his first seven years as head coach. An alumnus of CCRI, he graduated in 1973 with an Associate's Degree in Business Administration. In 1975 he graduated from Providence College with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. Presently, Grassini is the Bursar at CCRI, a position he has held since 1988. Earlier this year he was the recipient of the 2006 RI Legislative Award-CCRI Distinguished Alumni Award.

Kathy Bannan: Associate Head Coach

Kathy Bannan begins her ninth season as an assistant, her eighth as the top assistant coach at CCRI. Last season (2006) she was promoted to Associate Head Coach. Bannan played a big role in both the 2002 National Championship and 2003 National finalist’s seasons. Coach Grassini calls her his “right arm”! “She is probably the greatest asset that this program has ever had”. Her work ethic as a former goalkeeper at the Community College of Rhode Island and the University of Rhode Island has carried over into her coaching style. She works tirelessly along side coach Grassini helping with all aspects of recruiting, scheduling, and training. She has been instrumental in elevating the play of the CCRI goalkeepers, having produced five consecutive All-American’s in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005. Bannan is also a member of NSCAA and holds both the NSCAA State and Regional Goalkeeping Diploma’s. She was a former standout athlete in three sports from Narragansett High School. As a goalkeeper at CCRI she earned All-Region XXI honors for two years and was selected to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's (NSCAA) All-Northeast Regional Team. She posted a stellar goals against average of .74 ranking her sixth in the country among NJCAA netminders as she helped lead the Lady Knights to their first National Tournament appearance, ultimately finishing fifth in the country in 1996. She still holds the school records for most shutouts in one season (14) in 1996 and most saves in a career (236) in 1995 and 1996. Bannan later transferred to the University of Rhode Island where she continued her soccer career in goal and graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology. In 2005 she was inducted into the prestigious CCRI Athletic Department Hall of Fame.