Post by FIUFanatic on Feb 10, 2007 10:13:59 GMT -5
FIU just hired fomer Fresno State top assistant, Thomas Chestnutt, as the women's soccer second ever head coach. According to Pete Pelegrin's article, Chestnutt comes in with a reputation as a top recruiter (have we heard this before?) in the sport....He also worked prior to Fresno as a volunteer coach in Florida, so he has that "local" connection there as well...Congrats and good luck to our new coach...
Welcome!
www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/16668339.htm
Welcome!
www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/16668339.htm
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COLLEGES NOTEBOOK
FIU names soccer coachBY PETE PELEGRIN
ppelegrin@MiamiHerald.com
After helping lead the Fresno State women's soccer program to unprecedented heights, Thomas Chestnutt will now try to help the Florida International women's soccer team get back to the postseason.
On Friday, FIU athletic director Pete Garcia hired Chestnutt to replace Everton Edwards and become the second head coach in FIU women's soccer history.
''I am thrilled about the opportunity to lead the Florida International University women's soccer program,'' Chestnutt said. ``FIU athletics is heading into a new era and I am looking forward to leading this program to a greater level of success.''
One talent Garcia looks for in his coaches is the ability to recruit, and Chestnutt fills that bill.
Chestnutt spent the past six years with the University of Florida (volunteer coach) and Fresno State (assistant). He played a major role in recruiting for those programs and helped them earn spots in the NCAA Tournament.
''We feel very excited and fortunate to be able to hire someone with the background and experience of Thomas Chestnutt to lead our women's soccer program,'' Garcia said.
In 2005, as the lead assistant coach at Fresno State, Chestnutt helped the Bulldogs win their first Western Athletic Conference tournament championship, earn an NCAA Tournament spot for just the second time in school history and finish with their best record since 2000. This past season, Fresno State (13-5-3) was the Western Athletic Conference regular-season champion for the second time in the program's history.
The Golden Panthers finished the season (5-12-0).
COLLEGES NOTEBOOK
FIU names soccer coachBY PETE PELEGRIN
ppelegrin@MiamiHerald.com
After helping lead the Fresno State women's soccer program to unprecedented heights, Thomas Chestnutt will now try to help the Florida International women's soccer team get back to the postseason.
On Friday, FIU athletic director Pete Garcia hired Chestnutt to replace Everton Edwards and become the second head coach in FIU women's soccer history.
''I am thrilled about the opportunity to lead the Florida International University women's soccer program,'' Chestnutt said. ``FIU athletics is heading into a new era and I am looking forward to leading this program to a greater level of success.''
One talent Garcia looks for in his coaches is the ability to recruit, and Chestnutt fills that bill.
Chestnutt spent the past six years with the University of Florida (volunteer coach) and Fresno State (assistant). He played a major role in recruiting for those programs and helped them earn spots in the NCAA Tournament.
''We feel very excited and fortunate to be able to hire someone with the background and experience of Thomas Chestnutt to lead our women's soccer program,'' Garcia said.
In 2005, as the lead assistant coach at Fresno State, Chestnutt helped the Bulldogs win their first Western Athletic Conference tournament championship, earn an NCAA Tournament spot for just the second time in school history and finish with their best record since 2000. This past season, Fresno State (13-5-3) was the Western Athletic Conference regular-season champion for the second time in the program's history.
The Golden Panthers finished the season (5-12-0).
