Central Michigan University Athletics
Photo by: Katrina Shammami - @mediabykat
New Coach, New Player, and a Connection to the Past
9/30/2026 8:21:00 AM | Soccer
Chippewa Soccer celebrates Alumni Day on Saturday, and it's a special bond for former player and sophomore Naomi Phillips
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – Connecting with the past to ensure a brighter future.
When James DeCosemo signed on to become Central Michigan's soccer coach in December, 2025, one of the principles of his program was to be community, and a major part of that community is the alumni base of former players.
Those kinds of relationships are apt to pay dividends on any number of fronts. DeCosemo learned immediately just how much.
Just days after signing on the dotted line to become the Chippewas' coach, he got a call from Laura Gosse, who played at CMU in 2011-14. Gosse has coached the Markham Football Club in Ontario for more than a decade, beginning when she was still playing at CMU and working toward a degree in sociology with a minor in criminal justice.
One of Gosse's former Markham players, Naomi Phillips, was looking to transfer after a redshirt fall at Dayton. Gosse and DeCosemo were known to each other because DeCosemo had recruited some of Gosse's former players when the latter was an assistant coach at Western Michigan.
Just days later, Phillips, her sister, Charlotte; and her mother Natalie were in Mount Pleasant on an official visit. DeCosemo had nearly as many questions about CMU as did Phillips and her family.
"It was my first time ever swiping into the building," he says. "I didn't even know if I could get in, I had no idea where I was or what was going on. My office had just been painted so all the furniture was pushed into the middle of the room. I showed her around and we walked out to the field, and it was 3 degrees Fahrenheit; it was brutal!
"She spent 45 minutes in Mount Pleasant. Forty-five minutes. They arrived at 9, left at 9.45, and drove back to Toronto. It was between us and a school in Georgia."
Gosse, who still ranks sixth in program history with 21 goals, helped connect Phillips and DeCosemo, and she helped to deliver the new coach's first signee.
"I think Laura was a big reason," DeCosemo says. "She talked about how much she loved (CMU) and how good her experience was. … And (Phillips) committed two days later."
Clearly, the connection from Gosse to Phillips was critical, and it has paid immediate dividends on the field.
Phillips, a midfielder, has scored two goals, ranks second on the team with six points, and leads the Chippewas in minutes played.
"Like, genuinely, this has changed my life, for the better," she says. The (teammates) are amazing and I genuinely really like Mount Pleasant; everything's like a walking distance so it's easy to get around here and it has everything you need. Downtown Mount Pleasant kind of reminds me of Markham Main Street. It's very similar -- small shops and restaurants."
Gosse is among some two dozen former Chippewas who plan to attend CMU's game on Sunday, Oct. 4 (1 p.m.) and will be introduced as part of Alumni Day festivities.
"I had experiences through my four years at Central that were unforgettable," said Gosse, 33, who, after earning her degree from CMU, returned to her hometown of Markham and now works now as a special constable for the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and continues to coach club. "People talk about those moments in your life that you never forget, moments that stick out, and there were so many moments throughout my four years at Central, whether it was the friends that I made and are my best friends to this day, or events on the field, like going to the NCAA Tournament."
Gosse's connection to Phillips started more than a dozen years ago, when Phillips was just 7 years old and started playing in the Markham Football Club.
"She was part of a really, really good group of girls and honestly the reason why I coach is because of my experience at Central," Gosse said. "Central will always hold a special place in my heart for so many different reasons and that's why it's so touching to me that the kid I've known for like 12, 13 years now (is there).
"Hopefully that's kind of a bridge and a starting point for us to kind of rekindle the relationship with my other friends and all the alumni who have been wanting the same thing.
"Fortunately, I kind of had the voice in terms of being a (club) coach and being able to start that relationship with (DeCosemo) and, because of Naomi, it has been made even more special.
"Central gave me some of the best experiences of my life and it's nice to still feel like that's a part of who I am. It really did shape me into who I am today, it's a big part of my life, and being able to share that now with Naomi and also to express those feelings with my friends, other alums, and everyone as part of the same culture is special."
When James DeCosemo signed on to become Central Michigan's soccer coach in December, 2025, one of the principles of his program was to be community, and a major part of that community is the alumni base of former players.
Those kinds of relationships are apt to pay dividends on any number of fronts. DeCosemo learned immediately just how much.
Just days after signing on the dotted line to become the Chippewas' coach, he got a call from Laura Gosse, who played at CMU in 2011-14. Gosse has coached the Markham Football Club in Ontario for more than a decade, beginning when she was still playing at CMU and working toward a degree in sociology with a minor in criminal justice.
One of Gosse's former Markham players, Naomi Phillips, was looking to transfer after a redshirt fall at Dayton. Gosse and DeCosemo were known to each other because DeCosemo had recruited some of Gosse's former players when the latter was an assistant coach at Western Michigan.
Just days later, Phillips, her sister, Charlotte; and her mother Natalie were in Mount Pleasant on an official visit. DeCosemo had nearly as many questions about CMU as did Phillips and her family.
"It was my first time ever swiping into the building," he says. "I didn't even know if I could get in, I had no idea where I was or what was going on. My office had just been painted so all the furniture was pushed into the middle of the room. I showed her around and we walked out to the field, and it was 3 degrees Fahrenheit; it was brutal!
"She spent 45 minutes in Mount Pleasant. Forty-five minutes. They arrived at 9, left at 9.45, and drove back to Toronto. It was between us and a school in Georgia."
Gosse, who still ranks sixth in program history with 21 goals, helped connect Phillips and DeCosemo, and she helped to deliver the new coach's first signee.
"I think Laura was a big reason," DeCosemo says. "She talked about how much she loved (CMU) and how good her experience was. … And (Phillips) committed two days later."
Clearly, the connection from Gosse to Phillips was critical, and it has paid immediate dividends on the field.
Phillips, a midfielder, has scored two goals, ranks second on the team with six points, and leads the Chippewas in minutes played.
"Like, genuinely, this has changed my life, for the better," she says. The (teammates) are amazing and I genuinely really like Mount Pleasant; everything's like a walking distance so it's easy to get around here and it has everything you need. Downtown Mount Pleasant kind of reminds me of Markham Main Street. It's very similar -- small shops and restaurants."
Gosse is among some two dozen former Chippewas who plan to attend CMU's game on Sunday, Oct. 4 (1 p.m.) and will be introduced as part of Alumni Day festivities.
"I had experiences through my four years at Central that were unforgettable," said Gosse, 33, who, after earning her degree from CMU, returned to her hometown of Markham and now works now as a special constable for the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and continues to coach club. "People talk about those moments in your life that you never forget, moments that stick out, and there were so many moments throughout my four years at Central, whether it was the friends that I made and are my best friends to this day, or events on the field, like going to the NCAA Tournament."
Gosse's connection to Phillips started more than a dozen years ago, when Phillips was just 7 years old and started playing in the Markham Football Club.
"She was part of a really, really good group of girls and honestly the reason why I coach is because of my experience at Central," Gosse said. "Central will always hold a special place in my heart for so many different reasons and that's why it's so touching to me that the kid I've known for like 12, 13 years now (is there).
"Hopefully that's kind of a bridge and a starting point for us to kind of rekindle the relationship with my other friends and all the alumni who have been wanting the same thing.
"Fortunately, I kind of had the voice in terms of being a (club) coach and being able to start that relationship with (DeCosemo) and, because of Naomi, it has been made even more special.
"Central gave me some of the best experiences of my life and it's nice to still feel like that's a part of who I am. It really did shape me into who I am today, it's a big part of my life, and being able to share that now with Naomi and also to express those feelings with my friends, other alums, and everyone as part of the same culture is special."
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