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2005 NCAA Division I Women's All-Americans
2005 NCAA Division I Men's All-Americans
2005 NCAA Division I Women's Tournament results
2005 NCAA Division I Men's Tournament results
Northwestern suspends women's program while it investigates hazing incident.
Chappel takes over as Columbia coach, promising return to success.
Tabatznik resigns as coach at Georgetown after 22 years.
Porter becomes sixth Akron coach after Lolla moves to Louisville.
Hennessy hopes to end Delaware losing streak as new coach.
Columbia makes Ficken retire after 27 years as coach.
Rammel resigns at Saint Mary's to join MLS Galaxy.
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NCAA women Kirkup joins Florida staff as assistant to Burleigh.
SoccerTimes (Friday, June 2, 2006) -- Alan Kirkup says Becky Burleigh did him "a favor" when the University of Florida coach hired him Wednesday as an assistant. If so, he was probably due one. It was a little over 10 years ago that Kirkup, then the coach of Southern Methodist, facilitated the transfer of his star player, Danielle Fotopoulos -- the 1995 NCAA Division I leading goal-scorer with 32 -- to Florida. Fotopoulos, who played as Danielle Garrett at SMU, had just married George Fotopoulos, who was a resident of Tampa, Fla., where the couple made their home. Fotopoulos, who Kirkup replaces on the Florida coaching staff, went on to score 66 goals in two seasons for the Gators -- 1996 and 1998, since she missed 1997 with a knee injury. Her 32nd and final tally of 1998 (the NCAA record 118th of her collegiate career) came in the national championship match and defeated No. 1 North Carolina 1-0, snapping the defending titlist Tar Heels' 46-match winning streak. In the fourth year of the Florida program, Burleigh became the first women's coach to lead her team to a Division I title. "Circumstances were that Danielle married George and George was in Tampa, and it would be really hard to be married to George and live in Dallas," she said. "Alan supporting (the transfer) certainly helped." In Kirkup, Florida is getting a veteran of 18 years as a head coach, one who has recorded the 16th-most victories (224-137-19, .614) on the women's side of Division I. Kirkup, 49, who has spent the last two years living in his native England, has been teaching physical education and sports, while also working as a coach and in community relations for the Southampton FC Academy. "We feel that Alan is doing us a big favor by joining our staff with his experience and knowledge," Burleigh said. "I was surprised he wanted to work here. . . I said, 'Wow! This is was a no-brainer' I think we are really lucky to get him." An opening on the Florida staff -- Victor Campbell is the associate head coach -- developed when Fotopoulos rejoined the United States women's residency program in Carson, Calif. Kirkup was keen to return to the U.S. because his children Molly, 17, and Stephen, 15, live in Edgewood, Md. Joe Pereira, the long-time Old Dominion coach who worked with Kirkup and Burleigh on the Olympic Development Program Region III coaching staff in the late 1980s and remained close with both since, heard of the job opportunity and put his friends together. Kirkup called accepting Burleigh's offer "a no-brainer." "What Becky's given me is a chance to be involved with a top quality program," said the former player for Manchester United of the English Premier League (1972-76). "It was a chance to get back involved. . . (Florida) is a team that should be able to compete with anyone. You can't guarantee wins, but it's going to be a very exciting season." While working on his master's degree in physical education, Kirkup served as a graduate assistant for the men's soccer team at Eastern Illinois, helping it to the 1981 NCAA tournament semifinals. He then became an assistant coach for the SMU men in 1985, taking on the additional responsibilities of women's head coach in 1986. In 10 seasons, the Mustang women went 148-53-7 (.728) and played in four NCAA tournaments under Kirkup before he replaced April Heinrichs at Maryland in 1996. In his three seasons in College Park, the Terrapins complied a 42-25-6 (.616) mark, going to the NCAAs all three years and advancing to the quarterfinals in 1998. Kirkup then moved to Arkansas, where success did not follow him. In five seasons, the Razorbacks were 34-59-6 (.373) before he resigned. "Alan knows so much about the game and his tactical knowledge is certainly one of the best I've encountered," Burleigh said. "The team will gain tremendously from his teaching ability and knowledge." While working as an assistant would appear to be a prelude to Kirkup seeking a head coaching position, he would not admit to that being part of his plan. "I have not even thought that far ahead," he said. "I have no ambition at the moment to get another head coaching job." Harvey becomes Cal Poly Pomona head coach
Harvey, 31, replaces U.S. World Cup veteran Paul Caligiuri, who has coached the Broncos men and women the last four seasons, but now will focus on the men. The women's team finished 7-10-2 in 2005. Harvey played in three NCAA tournaments while at USC and, in her one season as an assistant to Jim Millinder, the Women of Troy finished 13-6-4 and returned to the NCAAs after a one-year absence. Prior to that, Harvey had been an assistant men's and women's coach at California State-Los Angeles for four years, including one season as interim head coach for both teams. "Isabelle has done a great job as a player and coach here," Millinder said. "We're very disappointed to see her leave, but we're happy for her growth as a coach. I wish her nothing but the best in the future at Cal Poly Pomona. I'm sure she'll help them win a national championship." Harvey, the only USC player to ever earn All-American honors for all four seasons, holds school career records for goals (48), assists (39), game-winning goals (21) and points (135). As a freshman in 1996, she established single-season marks for goals (20), points (51) and game-winning goals (9). Harvey also appeared 44 times for Canada, including starting all three games and registering two assists in the 1999 Women's World Cup.
Gary Davidson is SoccerTimes managing editor. Do you have a comment on this story or something to say about soccer in general? Send us a letter. |
