3/17/2004

WASHINGTON, D.C. ? Longtime Georgetown assistant women's soccer coach Dave Nolan was today named the program?s new head coach, replacing Diane Drake, who recently accepted the head coaching position at George Mason University.

Nolan has served as an assistant on the Georgetown coaching staff since 1999, and brings a wide range of experience to the Hilltop, having played and coached at various national and international levels.
 
In Nolan's five years on the Georgetown staff, the Hoyas have amassed a 45-44-6 overall record, advancing twice to the Big East Conference Tournament, winning the 2001 ECAC Championship and posting back-to-back 11-win seasons in 2001 and 2002.

In his role as an assistant coach, Nolan coordinated recruiting, developed goalkeepers and team defense, prepared scouting reports and organized travel, community programs and university camps.

Nolan's defensive coaching contributions helped lead the Hoyas to a school-record seven shutout victories in 2002, and a total of 26 shutouts over his five seasons. His defenses have averaged less than two goals-against in four of his five seasons, including a 1.50 goals-against average in 2002, the lowest in program history.

The Bethesda Excel club team that Nolan has coached since 2001 rose to #1 in the 2003 Youth National Soccer Rankings, and were Region 1 Champions and Under-16 National Finalists. The team won Maryland state championships in 2002 and 2003, and have four players representing the U.S. on the Under-17 National Team and nine players on the USYSA Region 1 Team. Nolan's D.C. United club team won the 2003 Mid-Atlantic Championship and advanced to the U-17 National Finals.

Prior to his coming to the D.C. area, Nolan spent the 1998 season on the Seton Hall women's soccer staff, where he served as the goalkeeper coach. In addition, he was the Director of Coaching at the Emerald Soccer School in South Orange, N.J. He spent the summer of 1999 as the assistant coach of the W-League Central Jersey Splash.

Before Seton Hall, he was an assistant coach at Fairleigh Dickinson University during the 1997 fall season. He also was hired in January 1997 as a director of the prestigious Soccer Plus Goalkeeping Academy, run by former U.S. National Women's Team coach Tony DiCicco.

A member of the National Team Pool in Ireland at the Youth Level, Nolan came to the United States and played soccer at Seton Hall. A four-year starter, he led the Pirates to four-consecutive NCAA Tournament berths and two Big East Conference championships. Selected to the 1987 Big East Conference Tournament Team, Nolan was also named the Big East Conference Student-Athlete of the Year in 1991. Nolan was a New Jersey State Under-23 team selection in 1992, and a New Jersey Senior Side representative from 1993-1997. He received a bachelor's degree in Finance in 1991, and later a master?s degree in Business Administration in 1993 from Seton Hall.

The Georgetown Athletic Department would like to thank former coach Diane Drake for her five years of distinguished service and wishes her the best in her new endeavor.