First-year University of Evansville head women’s soccer coach Krista McKendree has announced the addition of Matt Kagan and Corey Southers to her coaching staff for the 2008 season.
Kagan will serve as McKendree’s top assistant this fall after three successful seasons as head coach at Division III?Worcester State College in Worcester, Massachusetts. Southers, meanwhile, will serve as UE’s goalkeeper coach, a position he knows well after recently completing a four-year career in goal with the UE men’s soccer team this past fall.
“I am thrilled to be able to add both Matt and Corey to my first coaching staff at UE,” said McKendree. “Both men will add a lot to our program this fall.
“I?am looking forward to Matt bringing a different perspective and originality to this team. His enthusiasm and excitement for the game, coupled with his experience as both a collegiate head and assistant coach really set him apart from other candidates in the interviewing process. I think the combination of Matt’s attacking mindset and my defensive one will blend superbly next year.
“Corey will be a vital part of our coaching staff this next year, as goalkeeping is a specialty area that requires someone with that experience to keep keepers fresh and sharp all year long. I saw such a difference two seasons ago in our team when we had a goalkeepers coach, and I?am extremely thankful that Corey will be here to push our keepers in the fall.”
Kagan joins the UE coaching staff after serving the last three years as head women’s coach at Worcester State College in Worcester, Massachusetts. Kagan directed the Lancers to three-straight Division III?NCAA?Tournament appearances as head coach, and an overall record of 45-15-3 over the last three seasons. This past year, he led the Lancers to the NCAA Tournament “Sweet 16” and a final national ranking of 21st in the NSCAA poll. While at Worcester, Kagan helped develop 19 all-conference players in just three seasons as head coach, including a 2007 D3Kicks.com All-America selection, and was named the 2005 Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Coach of the Year.
Southers recently concluded a four-year career in the nets at Evansville this past fall. A veteran of 45 games at UE with 35 starts in goal, Southers compiled a 2.28 goals against average in over 3,900 minutes in goal as a Purple Ace. He earned honorable mention all-Missouri Valley Conference honors as a freshman at UE, after breaking the school record for saves in a single-season with 118. Southers also excelled in the classroom at UE, earning MVC Scholar-Athlete team status and the team’s Scholar-Athlete award as a junior.
