Catawba Names Chad Miller As Women’s Soccer Coach

SALISBURY, NC -- Chad Miller has been named head women's soccer coach at Catawba College, it was announced today by Dennis Davidson, Director of Athletics. Miller comes to Catawba from Western Carolina University, where he has served as assistant women's soccer coach since August of 2006.

While at WCU, Miller was the recruiting coordinator for head coach Tammy DeCesare, a 1996 Catawba graduate and former standout player for the Lady Indians. He also was very involved in the academic oversight of the student athletes and the fund-raising efforts for the Lady Catamounts. Miller also oversaw three graduate assistant coaches and trained the WCU goalkeepers.

"We are very excited to have Coach Miller join the Catawba community and continue the excellence which has become synonymous with the women's soccer program," said Davidson. "With his ties to Pfeiffer, Coach Miller definitely has the Division II experience to go along with his more recent DI work. The mixture of his coaching background is a solid base to continue the great work of his predecessors. He has proven his ability to effectively evaluate, recruit and retain exceptional student athletes."

Miller follows the very successful (four NCAA regional appearances) reign of John Cullen as head coach, who resigned in January in order to take the same position at UNC-Charlotte. Prior to Cullen (113-33-16 in 2001-08), Catawba women's soccer teams enjoyed success under Kevin Dempsey (80-46-7 in 1994-2000), Mary Ann Martinelli (25-9-1 in 1992-93) and Tom Ferland, the program's first coach in 1990-91.

"I am very honored and humbled to have been selected as the new women's soccer coach at Catawba College," said Miller. "I am very familiar with and impressed by the success of the program over the years through its history with John (Cullen) and Kevin (Dempsey) and I look forward to building on the great tradition that has been established."

Miller, a 1994 Pfeiffer graduate, was a four-year soccer letterman and captain for the Falcons as a senior.

Miller also got his first taste of coaching in Stanly County, first as assistant at North Stanly (1991-97) and then as head coach at West Stanly in 1998. He was part of a state championship coaching staff at North Stanly in 1992.

Taking over as head coach at Pfeiffer in 1999, Miller's teams compiled an overall record of 80-50-9 and a CVAC mark of 54-18-6. His teams won CVAC championships in 2000 and 2005, and he earned Coach of the Year honors. Miller's Pfeiffer teams consistently ranked in the Southeast Region's Top Ten and he recruited and coached 31 CVAC all-conference players and six all-region players. The Lady Falcons won three straight CVAC Tournament crowns (2000-02).

At WCU, Miller assisted a program that was 32-23-8 in 2006-08, including the Southern Conference Tournament title last year. The 2008 team advanced to the NCAA Tournament before falling to North Carolina.

In addition to his collegiate work, Miller co-founded and was the coaching director for the SC United Soccer Club (1993-2000), was on the North Carolina Olympic Development Program staff in 2001 and 2007 and holds a NSCAA National and Advanced National License. Miller also has a USSF "B" License.