Scot Wieland Chosen as Next Head Coach for Cajuns Soccer

Scot Wieland Chosen as Next Head Coach for Cajuns Soccer
Led Belmont Abbey College to 86 victories and three undefeated regular season conference championships over the past six years

Saturday, June 25, 2005

LAFAYETTE - Scot Wieland, who guided the Belmont Abbey College women's soccer team to three undefeated regular season conference championships over the past six years, has been named the new head coach of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's women's soccer program, director of athletics Nelson Schexnayder announced Saturday.

Wieland replaces program-founder Dave Poggi who is leaving the University effective June 30. His hiring is pending approval from the University of Louisiana Board of Trustees.

Wieland becomes the second head coach in the history of the program since its inception in 2000. He inherits a team that posted a school-record seven victories in 2004 and had a 2005 recruiting class which was ranked No. 21 in the Central Region and No. 78 in the nation amongst all Division I schools by Soccer Buzz Magazine.

“I am really excited about this opportunity that has been given to me by athletics director Nelson Schexnayder and the University of Louisiana (at Lafayette),” Wieland said. “I am looking forward to meeting the team and getting started on a great season and career as a Ragin' Cajun.

“The program has made great strides in its short history and I am eager to continue its progress toward the goal a conference championship and NCAA bid,” Wieland added. “If the eagerness of the returning players and 2005 recruits is any measuring stick, I foresee great things to come for Ragin' Cajuns soccer.”

Winning matches and conference championships is something Wieland is all too familiar with.

While at BAC, he posted a .688 overall winning percentage, guided the Crusaders to three undefeated regular season championships in the NCAA Division II Carolinas Virginia Athletic Conference and went to the NCAA Tournament twice which included an appearance in the NCAA Quarterfinals in 1999.

In six seasons, Wieland's teams accumulated an 86-38-3 overall record, winning double-digit matches each year, and posted a 58-4-2 record in conference action. Three times his team went undefeated in conference play (11-0-0 in 1999, 10-0-0 in 2003 and 10-0-0 in 2004) and he leaves the Belmont Abbey program with a 26-match winning streak in CVAC regular season games.

Wieland was named CVAC Coach of the Year in 1999 as well as 2003, when he led the Crusaders to an undefeated CVAC record and won both the CVAC regular season and tournament titles both times.

Wieland coached two CVAC Freshman of the Year recipients, four CVAC Player of the Year honorees and had three players named All-Americans.

“I was extremely impressed with Scot's accomplishments, his enthusiasm and especially the success of his teams,” Schexnayder said. “He is a proven and successful head coach whom I believe will take our women's soccer program to a level of excellence that will energize our community.

“He has a vision for this program which I believe will help us continue the progress that's been made over the past few seasons,” Schexnayder continued. “We are fortunate to have a coach of his caliber to come and lead our program. We are proud to welcome him into the Ragin' Cajuns family and we are looking forward to him leading our women's soccer team.”

Prior to his stint at BAC, Wieland began his collegiate coaching career at Middle Tennessee in 1998 serving as an assistant coach.

His coaching career began in 1993 when he was named head coach at Bishop Verot High School in Ft. Meyers, Fla. Wieland stayed at BVHS through the 1997 season leading the girl's soccer program to an overall record of 64-15-5.

In addition to his collegiate experience, Wieland headed the North Carolina U-19 girl's ODP program from 1999-2001 and the North Carolina U-16 girl's ODP program from 2000-2003.

Wieland played collegiately for the Bethany (W.V.) College men's soccer team from 1987-1991 and also saw time on the Bethany football team as a place kicker.

Wieland received his bachelor's degree in fine arts from Bethany College in 1991.

SCOT WIELAND'S YEAR-BY-YEAR RECORD
(1999-2004 at Belmont Abbey College)

YEAR