As Bismarck State College prepares to launch men's and women's soccer teams in the fall of 2009, athletic director Buster Gilliss needed someone who knows how to lead a program on the field and off.

With 22 years of coaching experience in the Bismarck Public Schools system, Mel Fisher fit the bill. Fischer, who had successful runs as head coach of the Bismarck High boys and girls soccer teams, was hired Monday as soccer coordinator and head coach for BSC's men's and women's teams.

"(Mel) brings in a wealth of knowledge and years of experience, and along with that, stability and integrity that we're going to need to get our programs off on the right foot," Gilliss said.

Fischer coached for eight seasons at Wachter Middle School, then became an assistant with the BHS boys teams in 1995. He helped the Demons win their only two state titles, in 1996 and 1997. He was named head coach in 2003 and led the Demons to a 69-27-10 mark, including two West Region tournament titles and an appearance in the 2007 state finals.

Fischer became Bismarck's head girls coach in 1999,, and guided the Demons to state championships in his second season and again in 2005. He finished with a 99-54-37 record.

Fischer stepped back from both positions in May. Though he helped Bismarck's boys team this fall, he said it was a tough decision to take another head coaching position.

"I struggled with that question, because I just left a head coaching spot, one that I was very happy with,"he said. "But my real desire here is to create a program that is going to be successful and something that's going to be a positive move for the college as well as the community."

Fischer acknowledged that it will take a lot of work.

"I'm certainly not going to do it alone," Fischer said. "… I'll be leaning upon a lot of people to help put this program in place."

Though he will be the head coach of both teams, Fischer said he views his primary role as a coordinator for the program. The plan is to hire three part-time assistants - one each for the men's and women's teams - plus a goalkeeping coach.

Gilliss said that with Fischer's experience, he is an ideal choice to help "groom" the assistant coaches.

As for players, Fischer says he expects the BSC programs to rely heavily on the strong local talent pipeline, especially as the teams get established.

"Over the years, there have been some great players that have come through this institution," Fischer said. "I think there's also been an interest level already expressed."

Fischer said BSC hopes to extend its reach to the rest of the state beyond, and mentioned online recruiting as a possibility.

"If we can provide another opportunity for kids to play a little longer, I'm all for that."

Scheduling is the other primary concern. Not many colleges in North Dakota offer soccer, and neither do any of the schools in BSC's conference, the Mon-Dak.

Gilliss said BSC is hoping to "piggy-back" when scheduling other programs - like volleyball - against current opponents that also have soccer.

BSC will play the JV teams of some four-year schools - Jamestown was mentioned as a possibility. But the focus will be on playing other junior colleges, especially those in Minnesota - such as Central Lakes, Fergus Falls, Rochester and Ridgewater.

"We have a number of schools within our region," Gilliss said. "That's where our playoffs would be, in that direction. Obviously in the Mon-Dak, none of the other schools or towns can support soccer, so that's going to force us to be a little more creative maybe, and go some other places."