Drugan to take over UT Dallas women's soccer
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| Aurora athletics photo |
Kanute Drugan, one of the winningest coaches in NCAA Division III women's soccer history, has been named the new head women's soccer coach at The University of Texas at Dallas. Drugan, who will be just the second head coach in the program's history, plans to be on campus later this month.
The selection was announced Friday by interim athletic director Bill Petitt.
Drugan, who coached at both Aurora and Washington College, brings to UTD an impressive resumé that includes eight NCAA Division III National Tournament appearances. Drugan boasts a 239-106-16 career record in 17 seasons as a collegiate coach. He ranks in the top 30 NCAA D-III all-time in both winning percentage and total wins. Additionally, he ranks in the top 50 in career wins among all three NCAA divisions.
"Kanute Drugan emerged as our top choice from a national search
that had many highly successful head coaches interested in UT
Dallas," said Petitt. "Not only is he one of the most decorated
women's soccer coaches in NCAA Division III history, but we felt
his attitude and approach to building a quality program was a
perfect fit. We want to develop a positive experience for all our
student-athletes, and to compete at a national level annually. I
believe we have found the coach who can accomplish both of these
goals."
Drugan earned most of his success while serving as the head
women's soccer coach at Aurora. In his 15 years with the Spartans,
Drugan's teams achieved 229 wins, 13 regular-season conference
championships and 11 conference tournament championships, including
seven straight from 2005-11. Drugan's squad was ranked in the final
national Top 25 poll on three occasions at Aurora, ending the 2002
season ranked ninth, 25th in 2007, and 8th in 2011. Aurora finished
the season regionally ranked eight times in his final 10 seasons
with the program.
"I am thrilled about the opportunity and excited about the future
of women's soccer at UT Dallas," said Drugan. "I am humbled
and grateful for the faith and confidence those involved in the
selection process demonstrated in offering me this
opportunity. I am impressed with their effort and the effort
of everyone involved in the UTD Athletics Department. I feel
welcomed by all. It is a tremendous honor and I feel blessed to be
a part of the UT Dallas community."
Drugan was a seven-time conference Coach of the Year while at
Aurora, claiming Northern Illinois Iowa Conference (NIIC) honors in
1997, 1999, 2000 and 2005, and Northern Athletics Conference
(NATHC) recognition after the 2006, 2007 and 2010 seasons. In his
15 seasons with the Spartans, Drugan coached 93 first team
all-conference honorees, 13 all-region performers and 12 conference
Players of the Year. In addition, Drugan's squads boasted the
highest team grade point average among all of Aurora's varsity
sports during each of his 15 seasons, annually earning a National
Soccer Coaches Association of American (NSCAA) College Team
Academic Award.
Drugan has equally been involved in the coaching community,
serving seven years on the NCAA D-III Regional Advisory Committee
for the Central Region. For eight seasons, he served as his
conference's women's soccer committee chair and nine years as the
commissioner of the City of Aurora Sports Festival.
After being part of a university-wide downsizing at Aurora, Drugan
took over a struggling women's soccer program at Washington College
in July 2012. In his first of two seasons with the Shorewomen,
Drugan guided Washington to the best-ever conference record in
program history and the squad's best winning percentage in more
than a decade.
"To all our current players and alumni," continued Drugan, "please
know I will do all I can to provide the direction and leadership
required to help our women's soccer program realize our full
potential and achieve our individual and collective goals."
A native of Salineville, Ohio, Drugan is a 1977 graduate of Ohio
University, earning his bachelor's degree in English and
government.
