Shaw resigns from women's soccer position at MOC

By MOC Sports Information
Published in Sports on March 14, 2007 2:36 PM

• Print
• Email

MOUNT OLIVE -- Chris Shaw, who won Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference Women's Soccer Coach of the Year honors in 2004 and guided Mount Olive to its first-ever conference championship, has stepped down as head women's soccer coach at Mount Olive to accept a position as assistant women's soccer coach at Division I Fresno State University, it was announced Tuesday.

Shaw compiled a four-year record of 52-34, including a 49-19 mark over the past three seasons with his first recruiting class. In 2004, Mount Olive led the nation in goals per game and set an NCAA Division II women's soccer record for the greatest single-season improvement, posting a 20-3-0 record after finishing 3-15-0 the previous year.

The Trojans won the 2004 CVAC Tournament championship and advanced to the title game of the 2005 tournament. Mount Olive reached the semifinal round in 2006, falling in double overtime to eventual champion Belmont Abbey. Mount Olive has compiled a conference record of 25-7-0 over the last three years and has been ranked in the final Southeast Region Top 10 poll in two of the last three seasons.

Prior to Shaw's arrival in 2003, the Mount Olive women's soccer program had never reached the .500 mark in any of its first nine seasons. Under Shaw, Mount Olive has had 13 All-Conference selections, six All-Region honorees and this past fall, a first team All-American, the first All-American in the history of the Trojan women's soccer program.

"Chris has done an outstanding job, developing our women's soccer program into one of the best in the conference and region," said Mount Olive Director of Athletics Jeff Eisen. "We appreciate all that he has done for Mount Olive College and wish him the best in his new position at Fresno State."

"It's been a great four years here and I have enjoyed every minute of it," said Shaw, a native of Fayetteville and an alum of Methodist College. "I'm proud of what the teams have accomplished here. It's tough for me to leave, but I have an excellent opportunity that I feel is a good move for me professionally."

Shaw leaves for Fresno State before the end of the month. Assistant coach Reid Clewis will handle coaching duties for the remainder of the spring season. A nationwide search for a new head coach is under way.