JAMAICA, NY --- (www.YORKATHLETICS.com) York College head men's soccer coach Brahim Chhab announced Wednesday the addition of three-time CUNYAC Coach of the Year Ranford Champagnie to his staff to serve as an assistant coach.

"I am glad to be back in the CUNY system, playing exciting soccer and influencing student-athletes. I look forward to making the program go back to the heyday where it was championship material."-expressed Champagnie

Champagnie made a name for himself at Baruch College, where he spent two seasons as an assistant and 14 years steering the ship. Appointed as the head man following the 2003 season, Champagnie spearheaded the Bearcats to their first-ever CUNYAC Tournament Championship and appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2004, winning CUNYAC Coach of the Year.

Under Champagnie's stewardship, Baruch also claimed the CUNYAC Championship in 2006, 2012, 2013, and 2014, appearing in five NCAA Tournaments. During the 2012 and 2013 campaigns, the Bearcats did not lose a conference game. Outside of 2004, Champagnie was awarded the CUNYAC Coach of the Year in 2006, 2009, and 2010. Overall, he posted 126 wins and had a CUNYAC record of 68-32-13 at Baruch.

Adding onto his coaching success, Champagnie was an integral piece of the St. John's University men's soccer program. Playing three years for the Red Storm, the midfielder started 22 games as a freshman to contribute to the 1995 Big East Tournament Championship. In his sophomore campaign, Champagnie scored four goals and provided eight assists, helping the Johnnies capture the 1996 NCAA Division I National Championship. Missing the 1997 season with injury, he started 20 of 21 matches in his senior year, helping St. John's claim the 1998 Big East Tournament. Overall, the Jamaica native produced five goals and 15 assists during his career at St. John's. 

Outside of college, Champagnie played for various professional and semi-professional clubs in the New York area. Champagnie competed for the Westchester Flames (1998-2000) in the Premier Development League, known today as the fourth tier of the USL (United Soccer League). He was then rostered by the New York Freedom, a now-defunct team that played in the PDL and the USL Second Division. Champagnie also took the pitch for an independent club called New York Greek Atlas for three seasons. As a coach in the USL system, he led the Brooklyn Knights of the PDL in the summer of 2005.

Beyond his playing days and coaching success at Baruch, Champagnie has been a supervisor and counselor for the Dave Masur Soccer Academy at St. John's since 2002 and has worked for the New York Corporate Athletic League since 2006 as a referee, helping to promote and grow their business.

Academically, Champagnie was a member of the Dean's List in 1995-96 and graduated with a bachelor's degree in marketing.
 
Champagnie resides in Brooklyn with his wife, Christina, and son Jaylen. His twin sons Justin and Julian both play in the NBA.

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