VALDOSTA — Valdosta State University took the next step towards fielding a women’s soccer team by announcing Melissa Heinz as its first head coach on Thursday.
Heinz comes to VSU from Winthrop, where she served as the Eagles head coach for past seven seasons. Like she did at Winthrop, Heinz will start a program from scratch at VSU.
“As the new coach I promise to give my very best, have integrity, work very hard and show lots of energy to building this team to the standard levels of the coaches, athletic department and university,” Heinz said.
At Winthrop, Heinz was named the NCAA Division I coach of the year for first year coaches after guiding the Eagles to a 7-12-1 record in their first year of play. Three years later, Heinz directed the Eagles to their first Big South regular season championship and a runner-up finish in the Big South tournament.
Before coaching Winthrop, Heinz spent a year as an assistant at Birmingham Southern. She spent the 2000 season as head coach at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Ala. From 1997-99, Heinz was the head coach at her alma mater, William Carey College. After seven years at Winthrop, Heinz took the job at VSU because she said she it’s a better opportunity to get more support for her program at VSU.
“The people are phenomenal and the support is huge,” Heinz said. “I come from other programs that don’t even have half this support. And I’m not even talking financially. Support is huge.”
VSU athletics director Herb Reinhard said he was looking for a candidate who would have academic success, on-field success, experience starting a new program, a track record of providing a positive experience for student-athletes and someone who would mesh with the athletic department’s philosophy and represent the University and community in a positive manner.
“I can stand here today and tell you that I believe we have found that individual,” Reinhard said.
The women’s soccer team will not take the pitch for the first time until the 2011 fall semester. Heinz has 18 months to get program ready.
“We have a ways to go before we take the field for the first time, but today we take step two,” Reinhard said. “We’ve announced the program. We now have a coach. I’ve given her the file folder. I can go back to being athletic director.”
Heinz will start working fulltime on March 1 and her first priorities are finding recruits and making a schedule. She said what she learned in building Winthrop is new programs need good leadership.
“It’s a lot of work,” Heinz said. “You have to get out there. You have to let everyone know about Valdosta State.”
As far as scholarships go, the NCAA allows 9.9 equivalencies for Division II women’s soccer. How those scholarships will be used won’t be determined until recruiting starts. For those recruits that come to VSU for the 2010 season, Reinhard said they’ll probably be redshirted since the program won’t start playing until 2011.
Heinz said transfers will be an option, but she added expect to see her doing a lot of coaching since the Blazers will field a lot of freshmen.
“I’m not quiet,” Heinz said. “I can get rowdy. I can get loud. I think in the first couple years there’s going to a lot more coaching because we’ll be younger.”
Heinz called Georgia and Florida recruiting “hot beds” and said she’s thrilled with the prospect of getting to recruit in the South Georiga/North Florida area.
In addition to playing college soccer at William Carey, Heinz played for the Charlotte United Soccer Club and with Youth Soccer Olympic Development programs in South Carolina. She has also served on the staffs at Alabama, Alabama-Birmingham, Clemson and Texas A&M;.
Local Sports
Heinz named VSU women’s soccer coach
- Local Sports
-
-
VSU's Harris suspended indefinitely
A shortened, diminished roster for the Valdosta State men's basketball team took another blow Thursday following the suspension of senior guard Sidney Harris.
-
Big weekend ahead for Lady Blazers
It might be an understatement to call this weekend’s two home games for the Valdosta State women’s basketball team a big deal, because that is exactly what they are.
-
Blazers fall to Albany State, 7-3
The Valdosta State baseball team was handed a third-straight loss Wednesday night, as the Blazers fell to in-state foe Albany State, 7-3.
The Blazers were held in check for much of the night, despite being aided by nine Golden Ram walks. With runners on base, the Blazers were unable to produce enough offense to score runs, leaving 12 runners stranded in the game. -
Wildcats rally for 50-40 win over Brooks
Valdosta’s boys basketball team came alive in the fourth quarter, and rallied for a 50-40 victory over Brooks County on Wednesday night.
The Wildcats outscored Brooks 24-9 in the fourth quarter, and turned a five-point deficit into a 10-point win. -
VSU soccer announces 2012 signing class
Valdosta State and Head Coach Melissa Heinz announced the signing of Blazer Soccer’s second recruiting class.
After bringing in a large class of 31 in its initial signing day, the now established program that went to the Gulf South Conference Championship match welcomes seven new players with a few more expected. -
Valdosta celebrates 2011 season
On Tuesday night, the 2011 Valdosta High football team was honored at the team’s annual awards banquet for a season that included the program’s first region championship since 2003.
The Wildcats went 8-3 in 2011, won their first Winnersville Classic in eight years and earned their 41st region title. -
Lowndes junior varsity tennis earns two wins
Lowndes High tennis opened up the 2012 season with a JV double-header in Waycross Wednesday afternoon
-
Lady Packers beat Lowndes, 55-48
The Colquitt County Lady Packers handed the Lowndes Vikettes a second straight loss Tuesday night, 55-48.
Jamesia Jones led Lowndes with 10 points, while Courtne Washington had nine. Tasia Brown finished with eight. -
Braves unveil another alternate home uniform
Hank Aaron recognized the look. Just not the feel.
The Atlanta Braves unveiled a new alternate home uniform Monday that is based on the attire worn when the team moved from Milwaukee in 1966, with Aaron as its biggest star. -
Valdosta native Garland named to Armstrong Atlantic HOF
Armstrong Atlantic State University has announced its latest induction class for the Armstrong Atlantic State University Athletic Hall of Fame. Among the six inductees and one Service Citation award winner is Valdosta native Nikki Garland, who ran cross county and track and field with the Pirates.
- More Local Sports Headlines
-
VSU's Harris suspended indefinitely
