BAKERSFIELD, Calif.-CSUB Athletic Director Jeff Konya has announced the hiring of Melissa Phillips as Roadrunners' Head Women's Soccer Coach. Phillips became the interim head coach at CSUB this past Spring when Nicole Van Dyke took an assistant's job at Stanford. "It became apparant throughout this Spring that Melissa is mature beyond her years," Konya said. "Yes, she is young, but she brings a lot to the table. Through Melissa's guidence, the team has performed well on the field and the team has strengthened its academic credentials as well."
"I'm very grateful for Jeff's confidence in offering me the position," Phillips said. "I am very excited to take on the responsibilites of head women's soccer coach at CSUB. I look forward to continuing to work with this tremendously talented group of women, as CSU Bakersfield is a place that holds such promise and opportunity."
In Phillips's two years as an assistant coach at CSUB, she has been able to make strides both on and off the field. In 2010, the Roadrunners beat one NCAA tournament team, Sacramento State, while drawing against two others, San Diego and Fresno State. In the classroom, her team has earned the athletic departments highest GPA as well as NSCA All-Academic team honors in 2009 and 2010. She has experience in all facets of the program including co-directing the CSUB summer youth soccer camps for all age and skill levels that produce over 300 kids per summer.
"In recent years, women's soccer has attained success in terms of athletcs, academics, and community involvement and support," Phillips said. "I plan to maintain the continuity of the program, while bringing unprecedented momentum to keep going forward."
Phillips will be earning her national C coaching license in June 2011. Phillips has coached the U12 and the U16 girls soccer teams with the Bakersfield Gunners. She also served as an assistant coach at Hilmar High School and with the Turlock Tornados club soccer team.
Prior to arriving in Bakersfield, Phillips was a standout defender for Cal State Stanislaus. As a member of the Warriors' squad, she was slected first-team All-CCAA three times. During her senior season, she garnered Daktronics/CoSida first team All-West Region and Adidas/NSCAA second team All-West Region honors. Phillips served as team captain her junior and senior seasons and was voted team MVP both years. Phillips graduated from Roseville High School and played for the Placer United club team and the District VI ODP team.
Phillips graduated in 2009 with her bachelor degree in physical education and kinesiology. She received the CCAA All-Academic Award three times, maintaining a 3.5 GPA. She will finish her masters of education degree in curriculum and instruction at CSUB in the Spring of 2011.
