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The last three months have been marked by historical events on the campus of Randolph-Macon Woman’s College. On September 9, the Board of Trustee’s announced a strategic plan that will make the college coed in the fall of 2007. On December 9, the new name of the college—Randolph College—was announced to the public.
In a monumental day on December 11, the athletic department announced the hiring of Bryan Waggoner, the program’s first-ever men’s soccer coach.
Waggoner’s coaching experience is widespread, as he has coached at the club, high school, and NCAA Division I and III levels. His most recent position was at his alma mater, the University of Richmond, where he served as an assistant coach for three seasons. During this time Waggoner’s duties included on-field training, game analysis, and recruiting. Prior to his work with the Spiders, Waggoner was the head coach at Douglas S.Freeman High School in Richmond, Virginia, where he amassed a 24-11-8 record over three seasons.
Waggoner is ready for the challenge of starting a new program. “I am excited for the opportunity to build a new program with my vision of what makes a great team,” he says. “I believe Randolph College’s commitment to athletics and education makes it an ideal place to structure a team with integrity and passion for soccer and life.”
As a Division I student-athlete at the University of Richmond, Waggoner was a four-year letter winner. He served as team captain as a senior, a year in which he earned the Coaches Award in recognition of his leadership skills. He graduated from Richmond with a degree in sociology.
After graduation, Waggoner was named the assistant men’s and women’s coach at NCAA Division III Linfield College in Oregon. He helped the men’s team earn an at-large bid in the NCAA tournament. Waggoner was involved in all aspects of the Linfield program, including on-field training, scouting, and recruiting.
At the club level, Waggoner has served as the technical director of the Virginia Capital Area Soccer League, where he analyzed, evaluated and trained teams throughout the club system. In addition, Waggoner was the head coach of the under 18 boy’s elite team, guiding them to five tournament championships and a final four standing in the state cup.
Waggoner’s club and high school experience, along with his extensive college recruiting background, will pay large dividends as he builds his new team that will begin sub-varsity competition in 2007 before playing a full Old Dominion Athletic Conference schedule in 2008. “My immediate goal is to put together a team that can lay the foundation for future generations at Randolph College,” he says. “I want to establish traditions and goals that become ingrained with WildCat men’s soccer.”
WildCat Athletics Director Valerie Cushman is thrilled to add Waggoner to the Randolph College staff. “Bryan brings tremendous energy, along with a clear vision for what it will take to build a successful men’s soccer program,” she says. “He is committed to guiding his team to success not only on the field, but in the classroom and in the Randolph College community.”
In addition to men’s soccer, the WildCat Athletic Department will sponsor men’s basketball, cross country, and tennis in 2007. Women’s cross country will also be added as a varsity sport in 2007. In 2008, the WildCats will sponsor men’s a
CONTACT: Vince Scalzo, Sports Information Director
