HAMPDEN-SYDNEY, Va. --- Hampden-Sydney College Director of Athletics Richard Epperson announced the hiring of Ian McMichael as the new soccer head coach on Friday.
Coach McMichael comes to H-SC after spending the past two seasons at NCAA Division II institution Pfeiffer University, located in Misenheimer, North Carolina, where he served as an assistant coach for one season before being named Associate Head Coach and Assistant to the Athletic Director.
"It is with great enthusiasm that we welcome Ian McMichael as the ninth Head Soccer Coach at Hampden-Sydney College," said Epperson. "I am tremendously impressed with Coach McMichael's passion and plan for taking our program to new heights. Ian was a vital element of Pfeiffer University's unprecedented success over the past two years, and we are confident in his ability to lead Hampden-Sydney Soccer for many years to come."
"I am thrilled, thankful, and extremely appreciative for this opportunity. I can't wait to get started and work for such a well-respected institution that is rich in tradition and excellence both academically and athletically," said Coach McMichael. "Our goal is to bring Hampden-Sydney the first soccer ODAC championship in the school's history while being outstanding in the classroom and active members on campus and in the community. I'm excited to begin this journey."
In his time at Pfeiffer, he served as recruiting coordinator and helped bring in 34 student-athletes in just two recruiting classes and also was the head coach for the reserve team. McMichael coached under the tutelage of Head Coach Bob Reasso. Reasso ranks among the top 10 of active head coaches for winning percentage and was the National Coach of the Year in 1990 at Rutgers University.
The Falcons were 1-15-2 prior to his arrival in the spring of 2013, but they proceeded to post massive improvement the next season, going 10-8-2. The Falcons continued their exponential improvement this past fall as they broke the school record for wins with 17. In 2014, they also won the Conference Carolinas Tournament Championship for the first time in program history while advancing to the second round of the NCAA Division II Championship tournament, also a program-first accomplishment.
Prior to Pfeiffer, McMichael was on the coaching staffs for UNC-Wilmington and Xavier University in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Following his time at Xavier, he was a head coach for several youth league soccer teams before being named the Head Coach at Topsail High School in Hampstead, North Carolina, where he coached for three seasons.
McMichael, a native of Roanoke, Virginia, received his Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and Electronic Media from Tennessee and his Master's in Education from UNC Wilmington.
--- This release is courtesy of the Hampden-Sydney College sports information department. ---
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