July 29, 1999
Janet Rayfield and Missy Price have been named assistant coaches to the Fighting Illini soccer program, rounding out head coach Tricia Taliaferro?s staff.
Rayfield brings plenty of experience to the program, after serving as head coach at the University of Arkansas from 1993 through 1998. During that time, the Lady Razorbacks won the SEC Western Division in 1996 and was a two-time conference tournament finalist. Rayfield coached four all-region and six all-conference players while also having 27 athletes named to the SEC all-academic team. In 1994, Arkansas? Honey Marsh was named SEC Player of the Year.
Rayfield spent two years as a USYSA Olympic Development Staff Coach for the South Region from 1993-1995 and was selected to assist the U.S. Women?s World Cup team in ?95. Prior to that, she was an assistant for the Lady Razorbacks for three seasons.
Rayfield comes to Illinois after spending the earlier part of 1999 as a National Academy Staff Coach with the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. In addition to her coaching duties with the Illini, Rayfield will also work towards her doctoral degree.
?I feel really lucky to have Janet as part of our staff,? Taliaferro said. ?I?ve known her since I was a club player when I was 16. She has great knowledge and experience and most importantly is a great teacher. She?s always been known for her ability to teach both the tactical and technical side of the game. She?ll work with every aspect of our program here at Illinois.?
Rayfield played collegiately for the University of North Carolina from 1979-1982. She was a four-year captain on a team that won the AIAW National Championship in 1981 and the NCAA Championship in 1982. In addition to the team success, she was named an All-American and Nike Player of the Year in 1981. She left North Carolina as the school?s all-time leading scorer with 93 goals.
Rayfield earned her bachelor?s degree in mathematical sciences from UNC in 1983 and her master?s in exercise science/biomechanics from Arkansas in 1996.
The hiring of Price means a reunion with Taliaferro, her former college teammate at Maryland. As an assistant Price will work primarily with the goalkeepers in addition to her administrative duties.
Price just completed a two-year stay at the University of Virginia where she earned a master?s degree in sports psychology. She also served as an assistant for the Cavaliers under Head Coach April Heinrichs. In her two seasons at UVA, the team compiled a 27-11-5 record and advanced to two NCAA Tournaments.
As a senior at Maryland, Price?s sound goalkeeping helped lead Maryland to the NCAA quarterfinals. She finished her career in 1997 as the school?s career leader in shutouts with 13. She also ranks third in career saves (219) and second in goals against average (1.24) in the Terrapin record books.
Missy was an outstanding goalkeeper at Maryland and one of the best in the ACC,? Taliaferro said. ?She works extremely hard and her enthusiasm will be an asset to our program.?
