NORTH SMITHFIELD – North Smithfield High School’s coach Eric Korytkowski has been named the 2019/2020 boys soccer coach of the year by the Rhode Island Interscholastic League.
Korytkowski, who is now in his sixth season coaching the Northmen team, is also the assistant coach for boys varsity basketball.
A graduate from the University of Tampa, Korytkowski briefly coached freshman basketball at Stonington High School in Connecticut before coming to North Smithfield. He coached Northmen basketball for one year before adding on the job of leading the soccer team in 2015. He also coached JV basketball for several years, and still volunteers with the program.
In 2018, Korytkowski led the Northmen to their single best regular season of all time, which culminated in a Division 2 Season Title. The team ultimately lost in the D2 championship against Wheeler School, but Korytkowski was also named coach of the year for the division that year. .
In 2019, he again led the boys to the championship, only to lose against Lincoln. Prior to Korytkowski’s reign, the program had not seen a championship game since 2006.
“Your selection to receive this prestigious honor is based upon the positive work that you have done with the athletes in your program,” noted the notice from RIIL, sent this week.
The award makes Korytkowski eligible for further honors on the national level, and RIIL officials noted that his name has been submitted to the National Federation of State High School Associations.
He will receive a certificate acknowledging the achievement .
The Northmen soccer team’s first game in the 2020/2021 season is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 10 against Lincoln starting at 6 p.m. at NSHS.
