RENO, Nev. -- Former Arizona State University Head Womens Soccer Coach Terri Patraw has been hired in the same position at the University of Nevada, the school announced today.
Patraw, (pronounced PAT-truh) who just completed a two-year Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree at Arizona State while being away from soccer during that time, guided Arizona State to a No. 13 national ranking in 2000. She built the Sun Devil program from scratch after being hired in December 1995 at age 26 to recruit a team, hire a staff and establish a nationally-competitive program in the rugged Pac-10 Conference.
The 34-year-old Patraw led Arizona State to a five-year record of 46-31-2 (1996-2000) and advanced to the second round of the 2000 NCAA Tournament in going 14-7-1 that year. Three of her teams had winning records and she beat nine top-25 programs in her five years at the helm, including at least two nationally-ranked opponents each season
during her final three years.
In the interview process it was easy to see that Terris enthusiasm will energize our womens soccer program, Athletics Director Chris Ault said. Senior Womens Administrator/Associate Athletics Director Cindy Fox added, We are extremely pleased to have Terri as our new womens soccer coach. Her track record as a player and Division I head coach speaks for itself.
Three of Patraws recruiting classes were ranked in the top 20, including a top-10 class in 2000, and a fourth class was ranked 10th in the West Region. She successfuly recruited a national player-of-the-year finalist, a Pac-10 Player-of-the-Year, a Pac-10 Freshman-of-the-Year, six All-America selections and 22 academic All-Pac-10 honorees while at Arizona State. Additionally, three of her student-athletes played on the U-21 U.S. National Team and two advanced to the U.S. National Team. Three of her former players went on to professional careers in the WUSA.
The former All-Central Region selection (Wisconsin), Patraw was a starter on the 1988 NCAA Final Four squad for the Badgers and started on the 1990 squad that was ranked second in the NCAA. As an All-Big Ten Academic selection, she has also participated in the Olympic Festival as a player. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism at Wisconsin in 1991.
Patraw, who owns a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) National A coaching license, has been a coach for 13 years, eight-and-a-half in the college ranks and four-and-a-half in high school. She previously served as an assistant soccer coach at Washington State for a year-and-a-half and for two years at Kentucky, serving as recruiting coordinator at both schools before moving to Tempe, Ariz.
She created, owned and directed Direct Kick Soccer Camp for five summers (1993-1997), a top residential soccer camp for girls in the Midwest, and was on the Region II (Midwest) Olympic Development Program coaching staff for three years (1993-96).
I was blown away on my visit to the University of Nevada, Paltraw said. The campus is absolutely beautiful, the athletic facilities are first class, and the administration has demonstrated a tremendous commitment to win. Combine all that with the Reno/Tahoe area and the University of Nevada sells itself. I look forward to showcasing all we have to offer to future recruits and I look forward to putting Nevada Wolf Pack soccer on the national map. I could not be more excited and energized. I am anxious to start working with the team and taking the program to a whole new level, she added.
A former high school coach in Madison, Wis., she was head coach of boys and girls teams at four Madison high schools from January 1988 to June 1992. Patraw, a native of Shoreview, Minn., was born July 10, 1969, and most recently has been a small business owner, establishing her own investment firm during the past year while completing her MBA in Tempe.
She also has completed two marathons in the past three years, the 2001 and 2002 Twin Cities Marathon. Patraw, who replaces former Nevada coach Dang Pibulvech, will begin her duties immediately.