MELISSA EGING NAMED FERRIS WOMEN’S SOCCER HEAD COACH

Central Michigan Assistant Coach Tabbed To Lead Bulldog Program

Eging, who most recently served as an assistant coach at NCAA Division I Central Michigan, replaces the program’s only previous head coach Pete Watkins. He resigned in February to become the head men’s soccer coach at NCAA Division III Aurora University (Ill.). Eging will assume her current duties July 1.

“We’re excited to have someone with Melissa’s background and experience leading our program,” Kirinovic said. “Her previous head coaching and Division I assistant coaching experience provides her with the knowledge necessary to continue the work Pete Watkins started.

“We look forward to Melissa establishing our soccer program as a power both in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) and nationally,” added Kirinovic.

In her only season (2002) at Central Michigan, Eging helped lead the Chippewas to a 5-9-5 overall record and an eighth-place 4-6-3 Mid-American Conference (MAC) mark under head coach Mark Salisbury. The 26-year old Eging was involved in all facets of the CMU program, including administrative, recruiting and on-field coaching duties. CMU advanced to the MAC Postseason Tournament in 2002.

Eging previously served as the head women’s soccer coach from 2000-02 at Hamilton College, an NCAA-III institution located in Clinton, N.Y. She led Hamilton to a 19-13-1 overall record during her two-year stint, including consecutive New York State Women’s Collegiate Athletic Association (NYSWCAA) Tournament appearances. The Continentals’ first appearance resulted in a second-place finish while the ensuing season produced a third-place showing. Eging coached one all-region selection, four all-state players, six all-conference honorees and had five players named to the NYSWCAA All-Tournament Team during her tenure. Besides coaching, Eging taught lifetime activity classes such as tennis, racquetball and fitness at Hamilton.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to take over a program with a strong foundation,” Eging said. “We have a committed core group of returning players and I am eager to get things started.”

Prior to her head coaching debut, Eging spent two seasons (1999-2000) as an assistant coach at Bethany College (W.Va.) where the Bison claimed the 1999 President’s Athletic Conference Championship. She was an assistant coach in 1998 at Penn State University-Behrend, which is located in Erie, Pa. The Lions won the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference title and reached the Eastern College Athletic Conference Tournament during her only season. Eging also served as an assistant track and field coach at Hamilton, Bethany and Penn State-Behrend.

From 2000-01, Eging coached in the Olympic Development Program and served as a state team assistant coach for the New York State Youth Soccer Association. She played for the United Soccer League’s semi-professional Cleveland Eclipse from 1996-98.

Eging attended The College of Wooster (Ohio), where she competed in soccer along with track and field. A four-year soccer letterwinner, Eging twice led the Fighting Scots to the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) championship. The two-time all-region pick was named to both the all-state and all-conference teams three times. As a junior in 1996, Eging guided Wooster to an 18-3 overall record an a national tournament berth under head coach David Brown. She continues to hold school records for most points (eight) and assists (three) in a single match. Eging earned four varsity letters in track and field and was a two-time conference sprinting champion. The 14-time all-conference honoree concluded her collegiate career as a school record holder in both the 4x200 and 4x400-meter relays.

A 1994 graduate of Padua Franciscan High School in Parma, Ohio, Eging twice received All-North Coast League and All-Greater Cleveland Area soccer kudos as a prepster. The four-time letterwinner served as the Bruins’ team captain in addition to garnering prep all-conference track and field recognition nine times.

The daughter of Jim and Cindy Eging, Melissa graduated from Wooster in 1998 with a bachelor’s degree in history and attained a master’s degree in physical education from West Virginia University in 2000. She resides in Mecosta, Mich.

Ferris State concluded the 2002 campaign with a 7-10-3 overall record, which represented the third highest single-season victory total in the program's four-year history. The Bulldogs finished tied for sixth place in the GLIAC standings with a 3-4-2 conference mark.