UNI Soccer Camps
Head Coach/Camp Director James Price  James Price is entering his third season as the head coach of the women's soccer team at UNI. Price was named the women's soccer coach at the University of Northern Iowa, athletics director Troy Dannen announced Dec. 22, 2008. Before joining the Panthers, Price spent 11 years as the head coach at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va. After resigning from Liberty in 2008, Price spent the last season as the technical director for the Soccer Organization of Charlottesville Albemarle."We are excited to welcome James to our Panther family," Dannen said. "He brings a wealth of experience to our women's soccer program, with 11 years as a Division I head coach. Our goal is to build this program into a contender for conference championships and post-season qualification. James did just that for Liberty University, and we look forward to his leadership in development of the UNI women's soccer program." During his tenure with the Flames, Price led the team to three Big South Conference Tournament titles, and two Big South Conference regular-season crowns, in addition to three NCAA Tournament appearances. Price guided 39 all-conference athletes, with 20 of them earning first team all-conference nods. Two players were named Big South Players of the Year, along with three Big South Tournament MVP awards. Price was named Big South Coach of the Year in 1999, with the Flames finishing runner-up at the Big South Tournament. "I would like to thank Mr. Dannen for this wonderful opportunity," Price said. "I was impressed with the athletic administration's commitment to the women's soccer team, and by the honesty and eagerness of the returning players. There is already a solid foundation, and I look forward to working hard with the players and staff to build a soccer program that UNI can be proud of. I also plan to reach out to the Cedar Valley soccer community, and form strong relationships throughout the area." Price was a member of the NCAA Women's Soccer National Committee from 2002-2005. In addition, Price served as the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional Committee Chair from 2003-2005. Along with guiding his athletes to success on the field, Price also placed a strong emphasis on academics. Three of his athletes were named Big South Scholar Athlete of the year, along with two Academic All-America sections and two Academic All-Region and Academic All-District selections. The Flames women's soccer team had the highest GPA at Liberty, with a spring 2008 GPA of 3.26. Prior to his time at Liberty, Price served as an assistant coach at Randolph Macon Women's College from 1996-1997 and also as the director of coaching for the Lynchburg United Soccer Travel Club. Price played collegiate soccer for the Flames from 1993-1996 and later played with the USISL pro league team Roanoke Wrath from 1996-2000. In his native country of England, Price played at the semi-pro level with the Chessington United from 1991-1993. Price earned his bachelor's degree in sport management from Liberty in 1996. Price also holds an associate degree in exercise science from Farnborough College of Technology in England.  Sonia RodriguezAssistant Coach Sonia Rodriguez is entering her third season as an assistant coach with the UNI soccer program. Rodriguez assists in all aspects of the program, specializing in goalkeeper training.
Rodriguez served two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C. She was a standout goalkeeper for Price at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., from 2001-05. "I am delighted that Sonia will be joining us in Cedar Falls," Price said. "She is an outstanding individual who will be a positive role model for our players and I look forward to working with her again. Our goalkeepers will benefit greatly from Sonia's experience both as a successful Division I player, and from coaching one of the top goalkeepers in the country for the last two years." At Winthrop, Rodriguez was in charge of coaching the goalkeepers, and helped Dimitra Poulos earn first-team All-Big South honors. Poulos posted a 1.22 goals against average for the Eagles this past season, while recording four shutouts. As a player, Rodriguez holds Liberty's career record for goals against average, while ranking fifth on the school's single-season saves list. She was a Big South All-Academic Team member as a senior in 2005 when her team won the conference championship, was her team's co-captain, and was honored by receiving the school's Rock Royer/Mac Rivera Award as Liberty's top overall student-athlete. After graduating from Liberty in December of 2005, Rodriguez played for one season at worldwide power Santos Futebol Clube in Santos, Brazil, as well as for the Charlotte Lady Eagles in the USL Women's League. A native of Fairfax, Va., Rodriguez earned her bachelor's degree in biology from Liberty in 2005.
|
