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 Western Carolina's new assistant coach, Chad Miller. |
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Aug. 9, 2006
Cullowhee, N.C. - Western Carolina head women's soccer coach, Tammy DeCesare, today announced the hiring of Chad Miller as an assistant coach and Carolyn Warhaftig as a graduate assistant for the 2006 season. Miller replaces James Kryger, who left Western after one season as an assistant coach.
"I am extremely pleased to have Chad joining our coaching staff," said DeCesare. "He has done a tremendous job reviving the Pfeiffer program and creating a Division II power that competes with the best in the nation every year. I am convinced he will help us maintain the success we've created while assisting to move the program into the elite level of college soccer."
She added, "Carolyn had an exceptional career as a player. Her understanding of the player perspective combined with her intensity and passion for the game is what we were looking for in a graduate assistant."
Miller, a four-year varsity letter winner and team captain for Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer, N.C., possess 15 years of total coaching experience ranging from the high school and club levels to the collegiate ranks. A 1994 graduate, Miller has spent the past seven years as the head women's soccer coach and director of soccer at his alma mater, leading the Falcons to an overall record of 80-50-9 with three-consecutive Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC) tournament finals appearances. Miller was twice dubbed the CVAC Coach of the Year, both in 2000 and last year in '05, each coinciding with Pfeiffer winning the conference regular season championship.
During his tenure at Pfeiffer, the Falcons were honored five-straight seasons, from 2001-05, with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) & adidas College Team Academic Award. Miller also coached 36 All-CVAC players and 17 earned all-tournament acknowledgements. Three of his players were named NSCAA Southeast All-Region, equaling that number with three NSCAA Academic All-Americans.
Prior to taking the reigns at Pfeiffer, Miller served as an assistant coach at North Stanly High in New London, N.C., for seven years, helping lead the NSHS to the state championship in 1992. His first head coaching position came at West Stanly in Oakboro, N.C., in 1998 before moving on to Pfeiffer in August of 1999.
Warhaftig joins the Catamount coaching staff as a graduate assistant after graduating from Colgate University in 2005. A four-year starter for the Raiders, Warhaftig recorded 46 career points, including 18 goals and 10 assists from her midfield position. She was a three-time first team All-Patriot League selection and thrice earned the Patriot League's Offensive Player of the Week award over her final two seasons. Warhaftig was also honored three-straight years by the Colgate coaching staff by receiving the "Raider Award," which was given to the player who epitomizes the highest standards of skill, determination and integrity required to be a "total soccer player."
 Graduate Assistant Carolyn Warhaftig |
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During Warhaftig's four years, Colgate captured one Patriot League title, making an NCAA tournament appearance during her junior year in 2004. Originally from Wyckoff, N.J., Warhaftig earned her degree in English.
The defending Southern Conference tournament champion, Western Carolina women's soccer team, reported to campus for preseason workouts on Tuesday, Aug. 8, with the first practice taking place Wednesday morning. The Catamounts open the 2006 season on the road on Aug. 25, visiting in-state - and ACC foe - North Carolina State.
