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Philadelphia Women's Professional Soccer Announce Olympic Gold Medalist/Local Soccer Superstar Staci Wilson Joins Coaching Staff

Posted on: Wednesday, 6 May 2009, 12:01 CDT

Staci Wilson also scheduled to participate in festivities at the May 18th Media Event and Official Unveiling Ceremony to be held at historic downtown landmark, The Franklin Institute

PHILADELPHIA, May 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Philadelphia Women's Professional Soccer (WPS), (Philadelphia Women's Pro Soccer LLC), is proud to announce the recent addition of New Jersey superstar and North Carolina soccer legend Staci Wilson to its coaching staff. Philadelphia WPS General Manager/Head Coach, Matt Driver stated, "I am very proud to announce that Staci has joined the Philadelphia coaching staff. She is a highly-regarded professional athlete and coach, and considered by many to be the toughest defensive player in the history of the college game. Staci's combination of playing and coaching experience, as well as her health and fitness credentials greatly bolster our organization and take our coaching staff to levels that any professional sports team would envy."

Commented team President/CEO David Halstead, "Staci is a tremendous asset to this Philadelphia organization -- to the ownership, coaches, players, fans, youth programs, and entire sports community. Her unique expertise will provide a terrific foundation of knowledge and learning to the young players of this expansion team and will assist the organization to develop a cohesive group from the team's expansion, international, and college draft selections."

In addition to her role as Assistant Coach, Staci will be active in the growth of Team Dynamics, the Philadelphia WPS team's integrated youth development program. Staci will help direct the activities of Team Dynamics, including its soccer camps, training sessions, clinics, and professional sports services. She will work with other coaches and clinicians to evolve effective curricula and instruction for all of Team Dynamics' youth programs in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and southern New Jersey.

Staci will officially meet the Philadelphia fans at the upcoming May 18th media event/ceremony, where she will join the team's owners, management staff, Philadelphia VIP's, local area dignitaries, media representatives, hundreds of aspiring youth soccer players and fans at this event. Additionally, WPS Commissioner, Tonya Antonucci will be present at the May 18th event to officially welcome Staci and the Philadelphia team to the league.

Staci Wilson was born in Livingston, New Jersey. She was a two-time Parade magazine All-American in high school. A 1993 High School All-Met Player of the Year, Staci traveled with the US U20 Women's National Team. She completed her first season at the University of North Carolina (UNC), starting 22 of 25 games and helped UNC win the 1994 NCAA Division 1 Women's Soccer Championship. Staci was named first team All-ACC in 1994, as well as named to the All-ACC Tournament Team. In 1995, she was Soccer News All-American and co-National College Player of the Year. Staci was a major contributor to UNC's 1996 and 1997 NCAA Division 1 Titles, and in her senior year 1997, was named Soccer America magazine's "first team All-America." That year also saw Staci's fourth straight selection to the National All-American Team by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. As a result of her unparalleled play and success, it was no surprise when UNC retired her #27 jersey in 2001.

In 1995 and 1996, Staci was also busy playing for the US National Team and was a member of the gold-medal winning women's soccer team at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Staci was drafted in 2000 by the Carolina Courage of the Women's United Soccer Association. She was a two-time W-League All Star and three-time Final Four All-Tournament Team selection for the Maryland Pride and Raleigh Wings.

The official signing and unveiling of the team's name, colors and staff will be held at a special community event on Monday, May 18th, 6:00pm at Philadelphia's historic Franklin Institute. For more information about Women's Professional Soccer in Philadelphia, visit their website at www.wpsphilly2010.com.

Media Event Information

• May 18, 2009
• Event Registration/Meet and Greet begins at 5:30pm
• Ceremony/Media Event begins promptly at 6:00pm
• The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St. Philadelphia, Pa. 19103
• Media inquiries, interview request and event registration to Sherry Amos, sherry@sherryamos.com 856-415-2029
• All non-media requests, general information and season ticket sign-up, contact signingceremony@wpsphilly2010.com

About Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)

The mission of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) is to be the premier women's soccer league in the world and the global standard by which women's professional sports are measured. Play kicked off on March 29, 2009, with WPS teams based in the Bay Area, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Jersey/New York, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C. The league's eighth franchise, Philadelphia, will begin play next season with Atlanta expected to join as the ninth team in 2010, as well. For more information, visit www.womensprosoccer.com.

Media Contact: Sherry Amos Sherry Amos and Associates, LLC 856-415-2029 sherry@sherryamos.com

SOURCE Philadelphia Women's Professional Soccer

Source: PR Newswire

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