Randy Waldrum Becomes Pitt Women’s Soccer Head Coach
12/22/2017 1:09:00 PM | Women's Soccer
Panthers Welcome Nationally Renowned Coach
Full Press Conference | Hiring Release | Photo Gallery
PITTSBURGH – Ushering in a new chapter in the University of Pittsburgh women's soccer team, the fourth head coach in program history, Randy Waldrum, was officially welcomed Thursday afternoon.
Director of Athletics Heather Lyke joined Waldrum at the podium in the Petersen Events Center during an introductory press conference Thursday, following a whirlwind of events after the hiring announcement was made on Tuesday.
"In recruiting terms, we've landed a five-star recruit," said Lyke. "He is going to be an invaluable member to our Panther family. As an athletic director, one of the most exciting and rewarding things that we get to do is bring in a new head coach. This person directly impacts the lives of other people's children and it's a really critical decision that we make. We hoped to meet the high expectations that we needed in the leader of our women's soccer program. We were determined not to settle for anything less than that and we found that leader in Randy Waldrum. When I first met Randy, what stuck out in my head is that he's a pro, he's passionate and he wants to be at Pitt. His success is self-evident."
Waldrum brings national championship experience to Pitt, having captured two national titles as the head coach of the Notre Dame women's soccer program in 2004 and 2010. A two-time national coach of the year (2009 by Soccer America; 2010 by NSCAA), the Texas native will look to catapult the Pitt program into ACC and national prominence.
"It's a wonderful time for Pitt women's soccer, not only for me and my family, but I just think the change is needed, there's a history and a culture that we certainly need to change and I am excited about taking a leadership role and helping us get to the goals that we all have," Waldrum said. "The search committee and the process which was utilized in this whole hiring procedure was so professionally done and, I can tell you I have been in the college game for a long time, and this was the best of any university I have ever been at, so I really appreciated that."
Waldrum becomes the fourth head coach in Pitt history, joining the Panthers after a stint at the Houston Dash in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and will get his tenure underway following the holiday recess.
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PITTSBURGH – Ushering in a new chapter in the University of Pittsburgh women's soccer team, the fourth head coach in program history, Randy Waldrum, was officially welcomed Thursday afternoon.
Director of Athletics Heather Lyke joined Waldrum at the podium in the Petersen Events Center during an introductory press conference Thursday, following a whirlwind of events after the hiring announcement was made on Tuesday.
"In recruiting terms, we've landed a five-star recruit," said Lyke. "He is going to be an invaluable member to our Panther family. As an athletic director, one of the most exciting and rewarding things that we get to do is bring in a new head coach. This person directly impacts the lives of other people's children and it's a really critical decision that we make. We hoped to meet the high expectations that we needed in the leader of our women's soccer program. We were determined not to settle for anything less than that and we found that leader in Randy Waldrum. When I first met Randy, what stuck out in my head is that he's a pro, he's passionate and he wants to be at Pitt. His success is self-evident."
Waldrum brings national championship experience to Pitt, having captured two national titles as the head coach of the Notre Dame women's soccer program in 2004 and 2010. A two-time national coach of the year (2009 by Soccer America; 2010 by NSCAA), the Texas native will look to catapult the Pitt program into ACC and national prominence.
"It's a wonderful time for Pitt women's soccer, not only for me and my family, but I just think the change is needed, there's a history and a culture that we certainly need to change and I am excited about taking a leadership role and helping us get to the goals that we all have," Waldrum said. "The search committee and the process which was utilized in this whole hiring procedure was so professionally done and, I can tell you I have been in the college game for a long time, and this was the best of any university I have ever been at, so I really appreciated that."
Waldrum becomes the fourth head coach in Pitt history, joining the Panthers after a stint at the Houston Dash in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and will get his tenure underway following the holiday recess.
#H2P | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
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