WPI hires first full-time women's soccer coach

Corey Holton was the American Southwest Conference coach of the year this past season. Concordia (Texas) athletics photo

WPI athletic director Dana Harmon announced today the hiring of Corey Holton as head women's soccer coach. Holton becomes the first full-time coach in the 17-year history of women’s soccer at the university and will have additional responsibilities including teaching physical education classes and serving as an assistant sports information director.

"We are very excited that Corey Holton is joining our department and athletic program," commented Harmon. "She is an outstanding professional and coach who has a proven track record of success with her student-athletes on the field and in the classroom, and we are looking forward to her leadership of our WPI women's soccer program."

Holton arrives at WPI after three record-breaking seasons as head coach of Concordia (Texas) where she recently was recognized as the 2011 American Southwest Conference Coach of the Year. This past fall the Tornadoes posted a 14-6 overall record, were regionally ranked for the first time in school history and saw a record-high seven student-athletes named to the all-conference team.

Inheriting a team that had never won more than four games, Holton guided Concordia to 10-6-3 mark during her second season in 2010 and a spot in the American Southwest Conference Tournament for the first time in program history. Her program’s success has not been limited to the soccer field; the Tornadoes have sported a pair of Capital One Division III Academic All-District VIII performers and the women’s soccer program had a team GPA of over 3.0 all three years.

“I would like to thank Dana Harmon and WPI for the opportunity to lead the women's soccer team, commented Holton. “I am honored to be joining the WPI community and I am confident that the women's soccer program can achieve great success in the coming years."

Prior to her experience at Concordia, Holton served as the assistant coach at Greensboro. During her three seasons at Greensboro, she helped the Pride compile a 30-21-6 record, which included a record-breaking season of 14-4-1 in 2007. Holton acted as the recruiting coordinator while also teaching in kinesiology department, and working in academic support, disability services and academic advising.  

A native of Wilmington, Vt., Holton graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from Elmira where she was a four-year letter winner and two-year captain for the Soaring Eagles. She spent the 2005-06 academic year as a prestigious Bushnell intern for communications with the ECAC. Her duties included organizing NCAA Division II and III soccer championships as well as the Division I Soccer Jamboree. While with the ECAC, Holton also wrote for the Cape Cod Times.

Holton earned her master’s degree in sports studies at High Point in 2008 and holds a USSF National “C” License and a state goalkeeping license.