Tide Soccer Coach Staley Receives Contract Extension
10/29/2003 12:00:00 AM | Soccer
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The University of Alabama announced that it has signed current head women’s soccer coach Don Staley to a two-year extension.
“I’m very pleased with (Coach Staley’s) efforts and I really appreciate the impact he’s had on the program and on soccer as a whole throughout the state,” said University of Alabama Athletic Director Mal Moore. “I’m very excited about the construction of the new soccer stadium for the team and for coach. I think this will certainly have a positive impact for him in terms of recruiting.”
Staley, who currently ranks 13th among NCAA women’s coaches in all-time wins, has posted a 103-84-9 record in ten seasons at Alabama including three Southeastern Conference Western Division titles and the school’s first ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 1999. Earlier this season he recorded his 200th career victory as a women’s head coach and his 100th career victory at Alabama. He is only eight wins shy of his 300th career win as a soccer coach, which would put him among an elite group of coaches. Prior to the beginning of this season, only 16 coaches on both the men’s and women’s sides had reached the 300-win plateau.
“I appreciate the faith Coach (Mal) Moore, Dr. (Robert E.) Witt and the Board of Trustees has in me,” said Staley. “With the facilities that are currently being built and now this contract, it gives us a chance to rebuild this program back to the prominence we enjoyed not too long ago.”
Since Staley began the program in 1994, he has coached 13 All-SEC players including five SEC Goalkeepers of the Year and nine NSCAA All-Region players. He was named the SEC Coach of the Year in 1994 and 1998. He has also put an emphasis on his players’ performance in the classroom as well, evidenced by his 74 Academic All-SEC performers and three Verizon Academic All-Americans.
