BY SPENCER CAMPBELL
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
Virginia Intermont College has hired Diana Niland to coach the Cobras’ new women’s soccer program, after a thorough examination of more than125 applicants and four months of searching.
“I am excited to join the Virginia Intermont Athletic Department and look forward to establishing the program here,” Niland said in a press release. “I believe that my background will be a great asset as we re-start the soccer programs at VI.”
Niland graduated from and played soccer for the University of Evansville in Indiana, where she led the Purple Aces to the 1996 Missouri Valley Conference championship in her senior season.
Her coaching career began in the Bowling Green (Ky.) School District, where she led Bowling Green High School to two Final Four state appearances, three regional championship and three district championships.
Niland became a head coach in the college ranks at NCAA Division II University of Missouri-Rolla, before spending four years at Division I Troy University in Alabama.
Niland left Troy to hike the Appalachian Trail from Springer Mountain, Ga., to Mt. Katahdin, Ma. She completed the 2,176-mile hike in 200 days, hearing about the VI soccer position along the way.
“The overall experience of her years coaching at all college levels was an important factor,” VI athletic director Chris Holt said. “We wanted a broadened individual to share with students.”
Niland will be in charge of remaking a VI women’s soccer program that was discontinued after the 2007 season because of the school’s financial hardships.
Holt hired Cobra alum Robert Ssejjemba to coach the men’s team in October, and like Ssejjemba, Holt says that Niland will focus on recruiting players from within the Tri-Cities area in an effort to stem the financial burden of providing scholarships for international players.
“Recruiting focus will be regional,” Holt said. “We will have international students, but we need to stay close to home.”
Unlike Ssejjemba, who will make his coaching debut with VI in 2008, Niland has seven years of head coaching experience on the college level.
“Robert had all the characteristics we were looking for, minus the coaching experience,” Holt said. “We think Niland can help Robert, just as Robert can help her. I think they will draw on each other’s experiences.”
Finding a women’s coach was not as simple as the hiring of Ssejjemba, Holt said. What set Niland apart was her experience, her education and her desire to involve herself in academic life at VI.
“The end results is the most important thing,” he said. “We wanted someone who could join the family. Not only VI, but the Bristol community.”
scampbell@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2543
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