Terp Assistant Kerry Dziczkaniec Named Head Women's Soccer Coach At Vermont
2/20/2004 7:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Feb. 20, 2004
BURLINGTON, Vt. - Kerry Dziczkaniec (pronounced DISS-conn-iss), an assistant coach at the University of Maryland for the last five years, has been named head coach of women's soccer at the University of Vermont. Dr. Robert Corran, director of athletics, made the announcement today.
Dziczkaniec, 32, has been an assistant coach at the Division I level for 11 years. Before joining the Maryland staff in 1999, she was an assistant coach and interim head coach at Florida State University and an assistant coach at the University of Virginia, coaching under former US National Team assistant coach Lauren Gregg.
"We are very excited to have Kerry join our staff," Corran said. "With her energy, commitment, and experience with three of the top programs in the country, we know that she will have a tremendous impact on our women's soccer program and on our department. She is a very special young coach and we're delighted that she's now a Catamount."
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"This is a wonderful opportunity at a great institution with an outstanding administration," Dziczkaniec said. "Dr. Corran is building on an established tradition of excellence, and I'm excited to be a part of that process. I strongly believe in the vision that Dr. Corran and President Fogel have for the UVM athletic department, and I want to be a part of this exciting time. This is a talented team and the players are very excited to start a new chapter in UVM women's soccer."
A 1993 graduate of George Washington University, Dziczkaniec was a standout goalkeeper for the Colonials. She has spent nearly her entire career coaching in the Atlantic Coast Conference, and began her coaching career as an assistant coach at Georgetown in 1993.
At Maryland, Dziczkaniec was involved in all aspects of the program and worked extensively with the goalkeepers, coaching a pair of All-ACC players in 2000 and 2001. This past season, she helped lead the Terrapins to an 11-8-2 record and a spot in the NCAA Tournament, where Maryland lost in an overtime shootout to Rutgers. In her five years at Maryland, the Terps had a 53-44-6 record and qualified for the NCAA Tournament four times.
"I think after 11 years as an assistant coach in the game, Kerry is more than ready to run her own program and lead it to success," said Maryland head coach Shannon Higgins-Cirovski, who also coached Dziczkaniec as a player at George Washington. "I am very proud of her positive influence on our program here at Maryland and know she is ready to become a head coach. The positive and valuable work she was able to give Maryland helped us to be a great team. I wish her nothing but the best at Vermont."
At Virginia, Dziczkaniec worked with two of the top goalkeepers in Cavalier women's soccer history. She tutored Becky Hornbacher, who holds program records for career goals against average (0.78) and shutouts in a single season (11 in 1994). Virginia was ranked among the nation's top 10 and played in the NCAA Tournament during both of her years in Charlottesville.
She also had success during her three years at Florida State. The Lady Seminoles established the school record for victories in a season (12) in 1996 and averaged nearly 10 wins a year during her tenure.
At George Washington, Dziczkaniec was a four-year letterwinner and two-year starter. She recorded a career-best six shutouts in 1991 and a career-best 1.20 goals against average in 1992. She earned team MVP honors in 1991, leading the Colonials to nine victories, and served as team captain during the 1991 and 1992 seasons.
Dziczkaniec, a native of Syracuse, N.Y., has been a member of the Virginia and Maryland Olympic Development Program coaching staffs since 1992. She holds a United States Soccer Federation "C" coaching license. Her professional playing experience includes stints with the Baltimore Lady Bays and Maryland Pride of the W-League.
Dziczkaniec replaces Jodi Kenyon, who resigned in November of 2003 after seven years.
