TMCnet News
Methodist graduate Steve Springthorpe hired as Duke women's soccer assistantFeb 15, 2013 (The Fayetteville Observer - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Former Methodist University assistant coach Steve Springthorpe has been hired for the same role by Duke women's soccer head Robbie Church. Springthorpe has 23 years' experience at the collegiate level. He served as head coach of N.C. State and Fresno State as well as an assistant at Methodist and Florida, the latter under fellow Methodist graduate Becky Burleigh. "I think it's a great, great thing for our program to have somebody with Steve Springthorpe's experience," Church said. "Steve will obviously be working with our goalkeepers and we have two very quality keepers, Ali Kershner and Meghan Thomas. Both of them have met with him and enjoy him in conversation, so I think he will really bring out the best in those goalkeepers. "Steve will work with some of the defenders along with (assistant coach) Carla Overbeck, too. It's great to have another former ACC head coach on our staff to just look over our whole program." Prior to joining the Duke staff, Springthorpe served as head coach of N.C. State for four years, taking over a program in 2009 that had spent the previous two seasons without a win in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). In his time with the Wolfpack, Springthorpe compiled a 30-43-4 overall record, highlighted by a 10-win season in 2011, the first at N.C. State since the 2002 season. Springthorpe graduated from Methodist in 1987 after playing goalkeeper four seasons, and he was a two-time All-South Region selection and a three-time All-Conference choice. Sports editor Thomas Pope can be reached at [email protected] or 486-3520. ___ (c)2013 The Fayetteville Observer (Fayetteville, N.C.) Visit The Fayetteville Observer (Fayetteville, N.C.) at www.fayobserver.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |