Drake Hired To Lead Alverno Soccer Program
MILWAUKEE -- Alverno College Director of Athletics Brad Duckworth has announced that Richard Drake has been hired as head coach of the Inferno's soccer program.
"Richard emerged from a very talented candidate pool," Duckworth said. "His vast experience as a coach, teacher and recruiter position our program to springboard off the success we have had over the last few years. His enthusiasm to help shape our women, as well as his vision to move our soccer program forward made him the exact fit for us."
Drake becomes the program's ninth head coach and succeeds Brittany Nikolic, who departed Alverno after six seasons to become head coach at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside last month.
The Inferno finished 5-13-1 last season, after a program-best finish of 10-10 in 2013.
"This is a good time to begin as head coach at Alverno," Drake said. "The program has great potential, and I look forAward to developing the players, shaping the team and moving towards being a conference contender."
Drake, a coach and director of goalkeeping at the Greater Libertyville Soccer Association for the past two years, has also served as an assistant women's soccer coach at many successful NCAA Division I programs including De Paul University, Marshall University, University of Minnesota and University of Cincinnati. He most recently was an assistant at Loyola University Chicago for six seasons, where the Ramblers won back-to-back Horizon League tournament championships and a regular season title during his tenure. He was in charge of goalkeeper training in addition to handling all recruiting efforts for the Ramblers.
A 1996 graduate and student-athlete of fellow Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference member Aurora University, Drake continued his playing career in the professional ranks for seven years on a number of teams which included the Rockford Raptors, Cincinnati Silverbacks, Minnesota Thunder, Rockford Thunder and Northern Illinois Rebels.
Drake holds a United States Soccer Federation "A" coaching license and referee license, a National Soccer Coaches Association of America premier diploma, advanced national goalkeeping diploma, national youth diploma and director of coaching diploma.
"The soccer facility here at Alverno is top-notch. I have not seen many grass fields on a college campus that are this good, if at all. It will be a comfort to the program and players to know they train and play on an incredible pitch," added Drake.
After a preseason scrimmage at North Park University on Saturday, August 29, Alverno opens the regular season September 4-5 at the Mount Mary University Invitational versus Crown College (Minn.) Friday and Eureka College Saturday. The Inferno opens its home schedule Wednesday, September 9 against crosstown foe Mount Mary, and begins NACC play Saturday, September 19 at Lakeland College.
