News Release

Pete Curtis Named Head Women's Soccer Coach at W&J;

WASHINGTON, Pa. -- Washington & Jefferson College Director of Athletics Bill Dukett announced Pete Curtis as the school�s new head women�s soccer coach on Tuesday morning. Curtis replaces Melissa Joseph, who resigned in June to become the new head coach at Mount Union College.

Curtis has been coaching collegiate soccer for 16 years, including head coaching stints at all three NCAA divisions.

Curtis most recently served as the head men�s soccer coach at Division I Cleveland State for six seasons. Curtis took over a struggling program and led the 2002 Vikings to their most victories in a season (10) since 1990. Following the 2002 season, Curtis was honored as the Horizon League Coach of the Year, becoming the first coach in Cleveland State history to earn the honor.

In 2003, Curtis helped Stephen Ademolu earn Cleveland State�s first Horizon League Player of Year award.

�Pete brings a wealth of experience from all three levels of NCAA soccer,� said Dukett. �I believe his maturity and experience as a coach and as a player will benefit our program greatly.�

Prior to his experience at Cleveland State, Curtis turned the University of Charleston into a Division II men�s soccer powerhouse. He compiled a 68-30-8 record and led the 2002 Golden Eagles to a 21-2 record and a berth in the NCAA Division II national semifinals. Charleston outscored its opponents that season by a 112-10 margin.

For his efforts, Curtis was named both the WVIAC and Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year, and was one of eight candidates in contention for the Division II National Coach of the Year Award. A USSF �A� licensed coach, he also taught in Charleston�s Health, Physical Education and Recreation Department.

From 1990-1995, Curtis was the head men�s soccer coach at Division III Marietta College. During his years with the Pioneers, he also spent time as the head women�s tennis coach and the assistant softball coach.

A native of Liverpool, England, Curtis has a lengthy association with the game, playing for a trio of English professional teams (Everton, Chester City and South Liverpool) as a young adult. After several years of coaching at soccer camps in the United States, he played for then NAIA-powerhouse Alderson-Broaddus College from 1983-1987, and captained the Battlers to the No. 1 ranking in the nation. In 1998, the two-time Academic All-American was inducted into Alderson-Broaddus� Hall of Fame.

While completing his master�s degree in Sports Administration at Iowa State University, Curtis coached the Cyclones� club program to the semifinals of the 1988 National Collegiate Club Soccer Championship.


Submitted 2007-07-03 08:26:27 by D3Kicks.com Sports Information Department