CHICAGO, IL (July 13, 2007) \u2013 The North Park University Athletic Department has named a former player from its top rival to be the team\u2019s new women\u2019s soccer coach.
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\nTroy Edwards is a 1994 graduate of Wheaton College. He follows Kyle Lubrano-Fluhr, who stepped down after two seasons, and Jacob Ramos, who served as the interim head coach the past two months.<\/p>\n
Edwards has coached the women\u2019s program at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas, since 2004. He turned around the 5-9-2 LadyJackets into a winning team that made the American Southwest Conference playoffs in consecutive seasons. Nine of his student athletes earned all-conference honors, 14 made the ASC Honor Roll, two were named Academic All-Region by ESPN The Magazine, one was an NSCAA all-region honoree and one earned D3Kicks.com all-region honors.<\/p>\n
\u201cTroy Edwards has a strong mission fit with North Park University and he has proven that he can elevate a women\u2019s soccer program at the Division III level, said Athletic Director Jack Surridge. \u201cHe also played and coached under the legendary Joe Bean, one of the most respected mentors in the intercollegiate soccer coaching fraternity.\u201d<\/p>\n
North Park finished with a 5-11-2 record last season and a 2-5 (6th) record in the CCIW. The Vikings open the 2007 season August 31 at\u00a0 home against Carroll College.<\/p>\n
In other news, the university\u2019s women\u2019s track and field team was named one of 2007 Division III Women\u2019s All-Academic Indoor and Outdoor Teams of the Year by the U.S. Track and Field Coaches Association Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an extremely hard working and dedicated group.\u00a0 It is no surprise that the hard work, enthusiasm, and passion that they exhibit in track and field translates to other areas of their lives,\u201d coach Tracey Murnane said.<\/p>\n
In order to be nominated, a team must hold a 3.0 cumulative GPA. Seventy-three Division III women\u2019s programs were recognized. Selection for the award is based on a combination of athletic and academic achievements.<\/p>\n