Penn State was lucky when it hired Erica Walsh to become the third head coach in just 14 years of its already-storied women's soccer program. The up-and-comer was showing her medal fast after head coaching jobs at two Division I institutions and an active coaching tenure with the U. S. Youth National Team programs. Under the tight reins of Erica Walsh, Penn State's program is certain to continue the conference dominance and national success that it has over its first 13 seasons.

"Erica will undoubtedly continue our program's nationally competitive ways as well as its high standards in the classroom," said Penn State Director of Athletics Tim Curley upon Walsh's hiring. "Erica brings with her an excellent blend and breadth of experiences and will thrive as a Nittany Lion. We are fully prepared to help her keep the program moving forward as she hits the ground running."

The head coach at Harvard University as well as the U.S. Under-17 team at the time of her hiring, Walsh has consistently been active among the coaching ranks both at the Division I level as well as with the U.S. Youth National Team program for nearly a decade. Prior to her time with the Harvard Crimson, she was part of a Florida State staff that led the Seminoles to its most successful year to date. FSU joined Penn State in the 2005 Women's Soccer College Cup, with both programs reaching the national semifinals.

"Becoming the head coach at Penn State is an extremely exciting opportunity for me," said Walsh. "The chance to go back to my home state to join the Nittany Lion family and lead a program with such a strong tradition is something I have dreamed of for a long time. Penn State's unique offering of quality academics and nationally competitive athletics is my ideal coaching environment. I had the opportunity to work with several of the players with the U.S. Youth National Team program and believe the sky is the limit for Penn State's women's soccer. I am looking forward to being a part of its bright future."

"Erica will undoubtedly continue our program's nationally competitive ways as well as its high standards in the classroom," said Penn State Director of Athletics Tim Curley upon Walsh's hiring. "Erica brings with her an excellent blend and breadth of experiences and will thrive as a Nittany Lion. We are fully prepared to help her keep the program moving forward as she hits the ground running." Penn State Director of Athletics Tim Curley

Walsh's coaching path began in 1997 as a graduate assistant with Bucknell University. In 1998, she accepted a position at Dartmouth where she was an assistant coach for two seasons. After helping the team to a final NSCAA ranking of No. 8 at the conclusion of the team's 1998 NCAA quarterfinal run as well as an Ivy League championship in 1999, Walsh assumed the head coaching duties before the 2000 season.

As head coach, Walsh led the Big Green to back-to-back Ivy League co-championships in 2000 and 2001. Her squad was ranked in the NSCAA's top 25 each year, rising as high as No. 13 in 2001. In her three seasons as head coach, Dartmouth was invited to the NCAA Tournament each season and reached the round of 16 twice. All three of her teams earned the NSCAA's Academic Team Award. Walsh left Dartmouth to earn her MBA in Business Administration at Lehigh University where she served as a graduate assistant from 2003-04.

"As we spoke with people in the women's soccer community around the country, Erica's name kept coming up as one of the nation's brightest and most talented coaches," said Penn State Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator Sue Scheetz. "We know that she will continue to enhance Penn State's already strong presence on the women's soccer scene both in the collegiate ranks and beyond. She is an excellence choice to continue the legacy of our program as well as to help our student-athletes grow and develop as players and people."

Beginning in the spring of 2004, Walsh joined the United States Under-19 team as an assistant coach where she helped with preparations for the Under-19 World Cup. The U.S. finished with the bronze medal in Thailand after defeating Brazil in the third place match. Current Nittany Lion sophomore Sheree Gray (Toms River, N.J.) was part of the U-19 squad that year. After the World Cup, Walsh was appointed the U.S. National Team's U-17 head coach, a position which she currently holds.

As a player, Walsh was an NSCAA all-region selection at William & Mary. A two-time first team All-CAA pick, she propelled her team to four NCAA Tournament appearances as well as two CAA regular season and two CAA league championships. A high school All-American at Lower Moreland, she was also a member of the U.S. Under-17 National Team. She earned her bachelor of science degree with a concentration in biology from William & Mary in 1997.

Walsh on what Penn State apart from other colleges and universities: "Undoubtedly, it's the combination between the athletics and the academics. It's what Coach Paterno refers to as `The Great Experiment.' Penn State has created an environment where student-athletes can pursue an outstanding educatoin while competing at the highest level of college soccer. This is precisely the reason I wanted to join the Penn State Community."

Walsh on a Penn State player's soccer future after graduation:
"Several of the players coming through this program will have the opportunity to play in the re-emerging women's professional league. The current U.S. National Team roster includes two Penn State alums in Christie Welsh and Joanna Lohman and Erin McLeod is part of the Canadian National team roster. We plan to continue developing our players to compete at the national level and we have the talent in the program as well as the talent coming into the program to continue the tradition of placing Nittany Lions on national teams."

Walsh on what makes Penn State's home field so special:
"I've been to virtually every stadium in the country, including women's soccer stadiums that boast that they're `the top facility.' I can tell you, there's not a surface in the country that's better then Jeffrey Field. You walk out on it, and it's a carpet. There's not a weed on the entire field. The turf management group takes great care of it. I think the condition of the surface makes the players step on there with even greater pride. If you look at their road to the final four, the three times that they went you'll find that the road went through Jeffrey Field."

Walsh on the facility improvement plans for Jeffrey Field:
"It'll be about another year until we'll have practice fields where the old baseball field is, and another few years until the soccer only building is built at the south end of the field with coaches' offices, training room, equipment room and our team room. So looking at the facility as a whole, obviously they made some great adjustments since 2004 with the new surface and new stands and the next step is to get those practice fields right over next to our game field. The final part is completing the soccer complex- all in one place, all inclusive- a place for both the men's and women's soccer players."

Walsh on Penn State's support staff resources:
"I've been completely impressed with the way the student-athletes are supported here. Penn State offers a comprehensive program for all of their student-athletes which includes full time attention in the area of academic support, sports medicine, sports psychology and nutrition. There isn't one area that I look at and say, `this is a weakness for our program.'These players are treated like student-athletes with resources like pros. In each of the conversations that I have with the players, if they express needs or concerns, I'm able to point them in a direction where a professional around here can help them meet those needs."

Walsh on offseason training:
"I challenge anyone to find a better indoor training facility than Holuba Hall. This facility allows us to develop our players at the same rate as programs in warmer climates. It is one of the rare facilities that can accommodate a full-size match on full-size goals. The surface is state of the art field turf allowing our players to train in their cleats during the winter months when individual development is emphasized. In addition, Kirk Adams and the rest of the strength and conditioning staff create individual programs to meet each player's needs. The players at Penn State make great strides in the offseason."

Walsh on school pride:
"The atmosphere on campus is like no other University in the nation. Within minutes of being on campus you notice the only colors on students are blue and white. Echoes of We Are... Penn State can be heard from East to West Halls. It is obvious that students here are proud to be part of the bigger picture that is Penn State. We are Penn State proud!"