Soccer Adds Fitzgerald and Copeland to Coaching Staff
8/1/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 1, 2011
FORT WORTH, Texas - TCU head coach Dan Abdalla announced the addition of Jay Fitzgerald and Ted Copeland to the Horned Frogs' coaching staff Monday. Fitzgerald will come on board as a full-time assistant coach, while Copeland joins as a volunteer assistant coach.
Fitzgerald has been coaching high school and club soccer in the North Texas area for 11 years and joins the Frogs from his previous positions as the head coach at Nolan Catholic School and as the Director of Coaching for the West Division of Sting Soccer Club. He has led some of the top club teams in the state and was a goalkeeper coach for the U.S. Under-21 Women's National team for the Nordic Championships in 2005.
Fitzgerald served as the head coach at Nolan since 1998, tallying a head coaching record of 187-72-25. He earned Coach of the Year honors for TAPPS District 1-6A from 2000-2002 and took the Lady Vikings to the state finals seven times.
Fitzgerald had an outstanding playing career in college and as a professional. He played at Creighton University from 1991-1995. As a starter for the national-power, Fitzgerald helped lead the Bluejays to three consecutive NCAA appearances and was named the Missouri Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 1995. He played professionally with the Dallas Burn from 1996-1997, with the Sacramento Scorpions (A-League) in 1997, and with the Texas Spurs of Premier Development League in 1998. Additionally he played with the Under-23 National Team for the Olympic Festival in 1996. He graduated from Creighton with a degree in Exercise Science in 1995.
"We're very fortunate to have someone as qualified as Jay joining our staff," Abdalla said. "His credentials speak for themselves and he has a great rapport with the girls and will do an outstanding job of bringing out the best in them. On top of being one of the top goalkeeper coaches in the country, his local ties to the Fort Worth area and TCU will be a huge asset to the program."
Copeland brings a wealth of international soccer coaching experience to TCU, highlighted by his time as the head coach of the England Women's National Team from 1993-98, where he was instrumental in the development of the women's game at all levels. Copeland guided the national squad to the U.E.F.A. Cup semifinals in 1995, the quarterfinals of the Women's World Cup in Sweden in 1995 and qualified for the Atlanta Summer Olympics in 1996.
He was also named First Team Coach for the Hartlepool United FC of the English Football League and spent 12 years in Saudi Arabia when he was a Lecturer in Physical Education at the University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran. During this time he played and coached in the Saudi Premier League with Al Etifag in Dammam, was a consultant to the Saudi Football Federation advising on Youth Development and coached the Saudi Under-16 and Under-19 National Teams.
"I'm very excited to have someone as qualified as Ted helping us out," said Abdalla. "I've always been impressed with his passion for the game and kids. He brings such a wealth of knowledge and experience to our program and I look forward to having him as a part of our staff."
TCU will begin the 2011 season at Oklahoma State on Aug. 19. The home opener is set for Aug. 21 against Lamar at 1 p.m.
