After two seasons as the women’s soccer head coach, Matt Gwilliam will not return in for a third season in 2013 with Temple. Gwilliam has left Temple to join Colorado College as an assistant under head coach Geoff Bennett, according to multiple sources.
In two seasons with the Owls, Gwilliam compiled a 10-24-4 record upon joining Temple for the 2011 season. The Owls were 7-6-3 at home and 3-17-1 on the road with Gwilliam as head coach. Temple also added a 4-12-2 record in the Atlantic 10 Conference, finishing 12th in the A-10 in 2011 and 14th in 2012.
Prior to joining Temple, Gwilliam spent three seasons as Virginia Tech’s assistant women’s soccer coach, where he helped to lead the Hokies to three-straight NCAA tournament berths and a visit to the Sweet 16 in 2009.
With Virginia Tech, Gwilliam was primarily in charge of coaching the goalkeepers and defenders, a team that set and tied a school record for shutouts in 2008 and 2009.
As a defensive minded coach, Gwilliam’s Owls allowed 22 goals in 2012, averaging 1.10 goals per game, while the offense recorded 10 goals on the season, averaging .50 goals per contest.
Before joining the Hokies, Gwilliam began his coaching career at Citadel, the same school he earned a Masters in Education from in 2004. Gwilliam was in charge of the goalkeepers and defenders during his time at Citadel and served as the team’s interim head coach in spring 2005.
In 2012, Gwilliam brought in 15 freshmen, making Temple the youngest team with the most freshmen in Division I soccer. Notable freshmen included goalkeeper Shauni Kerkhoff and Erin Lafferty, who were tabbed to the A-10 All-Rookie Team in their first seasons.
Temple players were not made immediately available for comment and Gwilliam couldn’t be reached by phone.
For the upcoming 2013 fall season, Gwilliam recruited 10 freshman to join a young Temple team. Of the 10 commits, five midfielders, two forwards, two goalkeepers and one defender made up Gwilliam’s recruiting class.
Gwilliam will be joining a Colorado College team that finished 14-4-5 (8-2-1 in conference) in 2012. Last season, the Tigers fell 3-1 in the 2012 NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship to the University of Denver.
In a story on the Colorado College website, Gwilliam said, “I want to thank Ken Ralph, Geoff Bennett, and the entire search committee for affording me this opportunity. We are very excited to be joining the Colorado College family and looking forward to bringing continued success to the program.”
John Murrow can be reached at john.murrow@temple.edu or on Twitter @JohnMurrow12.
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