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Posted by
Kevin Scott
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Mon, May 5, 2008
- [
Soccer
] - Viewed 153 times
GREAT FALLS, MT (Monday, May 5, 2008) - The University of Great Falls Athletic Director Jim Hall announced the hiring of Brian Clarke as the new women's soccer coach at a press conference today. Clarke replaces Jamie Rizzuto who resigned in December. He becomes the second head coach of the Lady Argos as they head into the program's fourth season of competition next fall. He will inherit 14 returners from a squad that produced a 3-13 overall record and a garnered the program's first Frontier Conference victory last season.
Brian comes to the University of Great Falls from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota. As a Marauder player, Brian was named team captain his senior year and was also named an NAIA All-American Scholar Athlete. After completing his playing career for the University of Mary, Brian stepped into the assistant coach's role for the 2006 season. After just one season as the assistant, Clarke was promoted to the Head Coach position in January of 2007. The Marauders tallied a 4-13-1 record in a major rebuilding effort during Clarke's first season.
"We are thrilled that Brian has agreed to be our next women's soccer coach. He is an exceptionally mature and talented young coach who has a very bright future in front of him," stated Hall. "We were especially impressed with his record as a recruiter as he has signed 17 players over the last two seasons despite some extenuating circumstances. Additionally, he has extensive ties to our recruiting bases in Montana and Wyoming and I have no doubt that he'll be able to hit the ground running and continue to strengthen the talent level of our women's soccer program."
Clarke had this to say about the opportunity to take over the Lady Argos. "It was an easy decision. I saw a ton of potential for success. It is a great university, there is a tremendous athletic staff, and I was impressed with the recent and planned renovations to the athletic facilities and campus. I'd like to thank Athletic Director Jim Hall and President Eugene McAllister for giving me the opportunity to lead the women's soccer program to the next level."
Clarke has already begun recruiting and searching for an assistant coach. "There is a lot of work to be done, but it's worth doing to ensure the continued rise of Argo women's soccer," stated Clarke.