Cal U names "proven winner" with 27 years of collegiate coaching experience to lead the women's soccer program.
With head coaching experience at all three NCAA divisions, Pete Curtis was announced as head coach for the California University of Pennsylvania women's soccer program on Wednesday morning.
Curtis spent the past 11 seasons as the head women's soccer coach at nearby Washington & Jefferson, a NCAA Division III program. Prior to his tenure at W&J, he served 16 years as a head men's soccer coach at three NCAA schools with stints at all three NCAA divisions. In 27 years of coaching collegiate soccer, Curtis has compiled 255 career victories.
"A proven winner, Cal U is excited to have Pete Curtis join our athletic department," said Athletic Director Dr. Karen Hjerpe. "He has a great vision for the program and his overall experience will bring an elevated level of competitiveness to our women's soccer program."
Curtis guided the Presidents to a 132-69-17 mark (.644) during his tenure to become the winningest coach in program history. He led W&J to at least 12 victories seven times, as the program captured three-straight Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Championships from 2008-10. W&J also made three-consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament during that span, recording the first NCAA post-season win for any W&J women's team sport in 2008.
During his time with W&J, Curtis was named PAC Coach of the Year three times, featured the PAC Player of the Year four times and mentored nearly 60 All-PAC selections. He played a pivotal role in the development of two-time PAC Player of the Year Holly Shipley, who ranks second in program history with 61 goals, 33 assists and 155 points.
The Presidents also recently featured one of the top goal scorers in PAC history in Jordan Toohey. She paced the league in goals in each of her three years at W&J, including a single-season school record 27 goals in 2015, after starting her college career at St. Francis (Pa.). Toohey, the 2015 PAC Player of the Year and a three-time All-PAC First-Team selection, broke the all-time school record with 66 goals last year and finished third in school history with 146 points.
"I'm very happy to be the given the leadership of a program that I feel has the potential to achieve great things in the coming years. I was very impressed with the vision President Geraldine Jones, Vice President Dr. Nancy Pinardi and Athletic Director Dr. Karen Hjerpe had for the program and am committed to making that vision a reality," said Curtis. "I had 11 wonderful years at W&J and my goal is to bring a similar level of success to this program. I'm relishing the challenge."
Prior to W&J, Curtis served as the head men's soccer coach at Cleveland State for six years. He was named Horizon League Coach of the Year in 2002 after helping the Vikings record their winningest season in over a decade. The following season, Curtis helped Stephen Ademolu become the first player from Cleveland State to be named Horizon League Player of the Year.
Curtis played a pivotal role in developing Charleston (W.Va.) into a national power in men's soccer, spending five seasons as the head coach from 1995-99. He posted a 68-30-8 record with the Golden Eagles, as they posted at least 11 victories in each year of his tenure. In 1999, Curtis helped lead Charleston to a 21-2 overall record and an appearance in the semifinals of the NCAA Tournament while out-scoring opponents by a 112-10 margin. He was named both the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) and Great Lakes Region Coach of the Year that season, as the Golden Eagles finished No. 3 in the country.
Before his arrival at Charleston, Curtis was the head men's soccer at Marietta (Ohio), a NCAA Division III program, from 1990-95. He also spent time as the head women's tennis coach and the assistant softball coach during his time with the Pioneers.
Curtis, who played for three English professional teams, was a four-year starter at then NAIA-powerhouse Alderson Broaddus from 1983-87. While a team captain, the Battlers achieved a No. 1 ranking the nation during his season year.
While completing his master's degree at Iowa State, Curtis coached the school's club program to the semifinals of the 1988 National Collegiate Club Soccer Championships.
Curtis was inducted into the Alderson Broaddus Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998 and later was honored as a member of Charleston Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013.
— Courtesy of Cal U Athletics