Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG, Va. - The Virginia Tech Athletics Department, along with women's soccer head coach Kelly Cagle, announced the hiring of Matt Gwilliam as an assistant coach Tuesday.
Gwilliam joins the Hokies from Marshall University, where he served as the top assistant coach for the women's soccer team from 2005-08. While with the Thundering Herd, his role involved all aspects of the soccer program, including serving as recruiting coordinator and instructor for the defenders and goalkeepers. During his time in Huntington, W.Va., goalie Liz Orton earned the school's first-ever Conference USA Player of the Week honor. Last year, the 2007 recruited class was rated 92nd nationally, the best ever ranking for Marshall, by the national women's soccer magazine, SoccerBuzz. Also, two of Gwilliam's recruits received national recognition by SoccerBuzz as both players were named to the Top International Recruits list, one in 2006 and one in 2007.
"We are happy to welcome Matt to our staff and have no doubt that he will be a great addition to our program," Cagle said. "He brings with him a lot of experience having been the top assistant at Marshall and will add a lot to our goalkeeping position, recruiting and overall team management. Our staff is looking forward to working with him and also having him join us here in Blacksburg."
He came to Marshall from The Citadel, where he served as the Lady Bulldogs' top assistant for three seasons and also as interim head coach for the spring of 2005. While at The Citadel, he worked primarily with the defense and goalkeepers, lowering the team's goals against average in each of the three seasons. He also coached the program's first Southern Conference award winner. Prior to his stint there, he spent a season as the men's assistant coach at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa.
Gwilliam also has an extensive background in coaching youth soccer, including having worked with the West Virginia Olympic Development program and the Charleston United Soccer Club, whose U18 girls team won the South Carolina state title. He has served as a camp staff coach with One on One Soccer, Penn State, Central Michigan, Between the Pipes Goalkeeper School and Elizabethtown Soccer School.
A graduate of Elizabethtown (Pa.) College, Gwilliam played for the Blue Jays men's soccer team from 1997-2000. He spent four years guarding the net as the goalkeeper, earning Middle Atlantic Conference first-team recognition and four all-academic team honors, while being nominated for an All-America spot. During his career, the Blue Jays went a combined 60-18-2, winning a conference championship and participating in the NCAA Division III Tournament.
A native of Quakertown, Pa., Gwilliam holds a bachelor's degree in Social Studies Education from Elizabethtown in 2001 and a master's degree in Health and Physical Education from The Citadel in 2004. He also has an Advanced National Diploma and a Regional Goalkeeping Diploma from the NSCAA.
Gwilliam replaces Michael Lovett, who recently accepted the head coaching position at Ball State University.