Chris Petrucelli was named Head Coach of the Fighting Irish
of Notre Dame in 1990. His plan was to increase the level of
competition the team would face, providing opportunities to
young talent to play and, eventually, contending for the National
Title. Petrucelli assumed the Irish women's coaching position
after serving as an assistant coach to Notre Dame's men's soccer
coach Mike Berticelli for six years at Old Dominion. His record
as Head Coach at Notre Dame has been very successful. It is
exemplified in his 86-14-6 record while coaching the team to
two back to back NCAA tournament births. Last season the Irish
defeated nine ranked opponents. They captured the Midwestern
Collegiate Conference Title for both the regular season and the
tournament for the fourth and second consecutive years respectively.
The Irish also claimed the runner-up position in the 1994
NCAA Tournament.
Petrucelli last year also produced a bumper crop of All-American
players. These All-American players were Senior Forward Rosella
Guerrero, Junior Mid-Fielder Cindy Daws, Junior Goalie Jen Renola,
Freshman Mid-Fielder Holly Manthei and Freshman Defender Kate
Sobrero. Holly Manthei was also the MCC's All Newcomer of the year
posting an Irish Record and leading all of Women's Soccer in Assits
with 30.
Petrucelli states "Because of the academic reputation of the
University and the talented players who have already chosen Notre
Dame, we feel we are in a strong position to compete at the Highest
level. A high-caliber program is not thrown together hap-hazardly.
We've put alot of time and effort into developing the program."
Hence the success of Coach Petrucelli's teams are not attributed to
the luck of the Irish but it his demonstrative and intensive coaching
style that propels the drive for victory.
"The utlimate goal is to win a national championship," Petrucelli
says. "Whether that happens this year or in the near future it is up to
us. We've improved our schedule, our play and our quality of players
every year. I don't think winning a championship is out of our reach.
It takes time, but we have all the resources here at Notre Dame to be
able to do that."
Petrucelli is no stranger to knowing what it takes to win a National
Title. During his playing career, Petrucelli helped North Carolina Greensboro
capture a pair of NCAA Division III titles in 1982 and 1983. As a Senior
he was named as the team's Captain.
As well as being a member of the United States Soccer Federation Region I Olympic
Developement Program, he now also serves on the Region II staff and he is
serving as the chairman of the NCAA Division I Soccer Rules Committee.
His efforts have also earned him the honor of being named the Head Coach
for the United States Olympic Festival in each of the past two summers.
He was also named as the 1994 National Coach of the Year!!
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