July 10, 2006

University of Illinois women's soccer coach Janet Rayfield announced the hiring of Marcia McDermott as assistant coach. McDermott, a former head coach at Northwestern University and with the Carolina Courage of the WUSA, fills the position left open by the departure of Eric Bell to Florida State in June.

"Timing in this profession is critical and we are fortunate that the timing has brought one of the best coaches in women's soccer to our campus to have a lasting effect on our program," Rayfield said. "Marcia brings to us experience, knowledge, and a personality that will instantly add to the culture, performance and expectations of the program. Illinois offers Marcia a blend of outstanding educational opportunities and an impassioned soccer program to contribute to and impact."

McDermott brings a great deal of experience at a high level to the Illini squad as a former NCAA national champion during her playing career and a WUSA champion as a coach. She won three NCAA titles at North Carolina in 1983, '84 and '86 and led the Carolina Courage to a WUSA regular-season championship and Founder's Cup in 2002 as the only female coach in the league.

"I'm looking forward to working with Janet again--she's a great coach," McDermott said. "The program has had such success and is very ambitious for the future. I'm really excited about the upcoming season."

In addition, her hiring reunites the former coaching staff at the University of Arkansas, where McDermott was the head coach from 1990-92 with Rayfield as her assistant and current Illini assistant coach Dale Armstrong as a student assistant coach in 1991 and a graduate assistant in 1992.

"Dale, Marcia and I have worked together as a staff in the past and the combination of strengths and personalities was tremendous," Rayfield said. "The reunion will be even better because all of the experiences we have had since our first stint together has given us even more to share with our players and with each other. I could not be more excited about her decision to join this staff and help us in our quest for a national championship."

McDermott has also served as head coach at Northwestern, where she led the Wildcats to a Sweet 16 berth in 1998 and was named National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Central Region Coach of the Year in 1996 and 1998. She is very involved in the NSCAA as well, serving on the Women's Committee from 1994-2000, the Board of Directors from 1999-2000 and the Executive Committee in 2006.

THE MARCIA MCDERMOTT FILE

Born: August 16, 1965
Hired: July 7, 2006

Education
1987 B.A. in English, University of North Carolina

Coaching Experience
2001-02 Carolina Courage, Head Coach
1994-2000 Northwestern University, Head Coach
1990-92 University of Arkansas, Head Coach
1989-90 University of Maryland, Head Coach
1988-89 University of North Carolina-Greensboro, Assistant Coach

Professional Experience

2006 National Soccer Coaches Association of America, Executive Committee
2006 Chicago S.C.O.R.E.S., Board of Directors
2003 U.S. Women's National Team, Scout
2003 Carolina Courage, Assistant General Manager
1999-2000 National Soccer Coaches Association of America, Board of Directors
1994-2000 National Soccer Coaches Association of America, Women's Committee

Playing Career

1983-86 University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
1983, '84, '86 NCAA National Champion
1986 Co-Captain
1986 NCAA All-American
1986, '88 U.S. Women's National Soccer Team