WESTWOOD, Mass. (May 9, 2008) – The Boston Breakers of Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) today announced that Lisa Cole will join the team as Assistant Coach. Cole will serve alongside Head Coach Tony DiCicco, the acclaimed former coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team, when the Breakers kick off play at Harvard Stadium next April.
Cole brings over a decade of coaching experience at both the collegiate and semi-professional level, along with experience in soccer operations and management. Currently, she is the President and Assistant Coach of SoccerPlus Connecticut Reds, a Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) team coached by DiCicco. The team played its inaugural season in 2007, capped with a USASA U-23 National Title, a USASA Bronze in the Open Cup, and a WPSL playoff run.
The season was highlighted with the USASA U23 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, an USASA Bronze Finish in the OPEN CUP, making the WPSL Playoffs and participating in the National Soccer Hall of Fame game at the Induction of Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy. Foudy played with Reds along with Tiffany Roberts. While Mia played for her old team the Washington Freedom, along with Carla Overbeck. In addition, Cole is the Director for the SoccerPlus Education Center, a non-profit organization that provides and participates in educational programs, seminars, community outreach events and individual mentoring on and off the soccer field.
“I’ve had the privilege of working with Lisa for several years and I’ve been impressed with her professionalism, her insight into the game, scouting skills, and ability to bring out the very best in her players,” said DiCicco. “She was my first and only choice for the position.”
“Lisa is a tremendous coach with a successful track record of building teams, and finding and developing top-notch players,” added Boston Breakers General Manager, Joe Cummings. “I believe that the Breakers now boast the strongest coaching staff in WPS and I’m confident that Tony and Lisa will build and field an equally powerful group of players.”
Cole’s collegiate coaching experience includes a year at Florida State, where she served as Assistant Coach under renowned Head Coach Mark Krikorian in 2005. Prior to that, she served as Head Coach of the University of Rhode Island (2003 and 2004), where she compiled a 19-18-4 record and a 13-6-3 record in Atlantic 10 play.
Before taking over the Rhode Island program, Cole spent three seasons (’00-’03) as an assistant at one of the most successful college soccer programs in America while working at the University of Connecticut under Head Coach Len Tsantiris. During her tenure, UConn made two appearances in the Elite Eight and one trip to the Sweet 16. Notably, Cole also developed walk-on goalkeeper Maria Yatrakis, who played for the Greek National Team in the Olympics and won 2002 BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year honors. Prior to UConn, Cole served as an assistant at Mississippi from 1997-2000 where she helped guide Ole Miss to its first-ever SEC Western Division Title and SEC Tournament final in 1999.
“I’m thrilled to join Tony and the Breakers family,” said Cole. “The opportunity to work with an organization of this caliber, to coach some of the world’s elite female players, and to help launch a women’s pro soccer league in the United States is the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Cole is a member of the Region I Olympic Development Program (ODP) staff, a staff coach with the NSCAA, and a member of the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association Coaches Education Staff. Throughout her career she has also worked with the Washington, Mississippi, Rhode Island and Connecticut state ODP programs. She holds her USSF “A” License and her NSCAA Premier Diploma. As a college player, she had a stellar career in net at Pacific Lutheran, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1997.
The Boston Breakers inaugural twenty-one game season (with 10 or 11 home games) will open in April of 2009 and continue through August. The team recently announced Harvard Stadium as its home venue and that Season Ticket Packages are on sale, beginning at $130. For package details and a seating chart, visit www.bostonbreakers.com.
The mission of Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) is to be the premier women’s soccer league in the world and the global standard by which women’s professional sports are measured. Play kicks off in the spring of 2009, with WPS teams based in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New Jersey/New York, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.womensprosoccer.com.