Technician: What is new with the soccer program since last season?

Tarantini: This season is the first time our team has ever been able to play under the lights. We are the last school in the ACC — finally we can play on Friday or Saturday nights. The last time we were in the NCAA tournament was 2005. So we need to get back into contention. It’s a tremendous opportunity for us to show the fans where the program is. The leadership is here. The commitment is here. Now, we have to see the results.

Technician: Who is providing the leadership for the team?

Tarantini: Ronnie Bouemboue is our captain. Ronnie didn’t play last year because of a very difficult surgery. If there’s anybody here who is committed to win and to compete and do what we’re supposed to do, I think Ronnie is the guy.

Technician: How tough is the competition in the ACC?

Tarantini: We’re very conscious about the kind of league we play in. There’s no tomorrow, there’s no excuses, we play in one of the best leagues in the country. You have to compete. You have to produce.

Technician: Which returning players will take on a bigger role this year?

Tarantini: Kris Byrd, who never played last year, is somebody who we are really excited about. Lucas Carpenter is somebody who played last year, and he will be a much better player and a lot more prepared. Alan Sanchez will be somebody who we can grow and see his maturity, we hope. Tyler Lassiter. The biggest issue is to bring the new players we recruited this year to gel with the team, and we have. We have the personnel to become at least excited about this season.

Technician: What expectations do you have for the team this season?

Tarantini: The expectations of us are to be competitive in the ACC and go to the NCAA [championship tournament]. Anything less than that is unacceptable. My expectations are high. I don’t think I’ve been this excited in a long, long time. I don’t remember ever being so optimistic. But all those are good wishes. You have to prove [it] on the field.

Technician: How will the new stadium benefit the team?

Tarantini: It takes a tremendous amount of energy to play in the afternoon. So now, we’re playing under the lights, we are playing in a new stadium and we’re playing on a new field. We’re playing somewhere we’ve never, ever been before. We finally can try to compete with the other teams. It’s very hard when you have classes and have to play at 3 p.m.

To get to play on Friday or Saturday night will be a huge advantage for us. I have never talked about that before. You never heard me say anything like that. I never talk about facilities. That’s not me. I play with whatever we have, and there was no excuse for us to not make the NCAA tournament.

Technician: You have been the coach of the men’s soccer team for over 20 years. What are your plans for the future, and does retirement fit into those plans?

Tarantini: The last four or five years I have been working for the state department, doing clinics in countries where soccer is very important. I’ve been working with a lot of kids who love soccer but are going through some very difficult times. We are very blessed. We always talk about the NCAA and what is right or wrong, but there is not a system in the world better than what we have – the system of education, sports, possibilities. Nobody else has anything like this. So, I’ve been spending a lot of time in Central America. I’ve been doing things in Guatemala, El Salvador, etc. I really enjoy working with little kids. I don’t know what my future will be, but I hope it will be to be a part of the game and to give back for so many things I have received.

Technician: So no plans to retire any time soon?

Tarantini: Being at N.C. State has been a dream come true — a wonderful dream. My reflections for the future are, number one, to be grateful, to have the passion and the energy that you must feel and to serve and to serve every single person here to the best of my opportunities. And to have the passion and commitment is something that you have to feel very deep in your heart… and I do. The moment I feel I cannot have that passion and energy, it’s time to think about something else.

Technician: And so you still have that passion for N.C. State?

Tarantini: Absolutely