Springfield, Ohio – Wittenberg Director of Athletics and Recreation Garnett Purnell has announced the hiring of Matt Fannon as the university's new women's soccer head coach. Fannon replaces Kwame Lloyd, who resigned in February to take the same position at Salisbury University.
Fannon comes to Wittenberg after one year as an assistant coach at the University of Wyoming. He helped the Cowgirls to an overall record of 8-8-2 in the 2012 season.
"I'm excited to join the staff at Wittenberg, and I am happy to have the opportunity to coach at such an excellent institution," Fannon said. "During my interview, it was apparent that the campus community is passionate about the success of their students, and I'm looking forward to joining such a dedicated community. I can't wait to continue the success that is inherent to Wittenberg."
A native of York, England, Fannon previously spent two seasons as an assistant men's coach at Regis University in Denver, Colo. He helped lead the Rangers to a two-year record of 27-7-5 and the program's first NCAA Division II Tournament appearance. A center back during his playing days, Fannon was responsible for training the goalkeepers as well as field players at both Regis and Wyoming.
Fannon has worked as the Challenger Sports Regional Director for Wyoming, New Mexico, Utah and Mexico, and he also coached the Broomfield Blast high school-aged girls' teams from 2009-12, earning designation as Colorado Coach of the Year. He has his NSCAA Premier Diploma and earned his Football Association Coaching Certificate in England in 2002. He also has a United States Soccer Federation Goalkeeping License.
Fannon played collegiately at Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, W.Va. He earned first-team all-conference and all-region honors in both of his seasons with the Senators, while helping the team to a 17-5 finish in 2008, the team's best record in 25 seasons that included 11 shutouts, a program record. Prior to Davis & Elkins, Fannon played one season at Dutchess Community College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
Fannon graduated from Davis & Elkins College with a bachelor's of science in physical education in 2008. He recently began work on his master's degree in sports psychology at the University of Wyoming.
Wittenberg has posted winning records in seven of the last eight years, including a 2012 campaign that featured the Tigers' second North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) regular season title and conference Coach of the Year honors for Lloyd. Overall, Wittenberg finished 11-5-3 in 2012 after a 4-0 loss to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.
Wittenberg has been one of the top teams in the Great Lakes Region over the last decade, winning four NCAC Tournament titles between 2006 and 2009. The Tigers have earned five NCAA Division III Tournament berths since 2006, advancing to the Sweet 16 in 2007.
"I look forward to working with Matt to continue the success of our women's soccer program," Purnell said. "He has shown a tremendous ability to teach young people and get the most out of them as a coach and a mentor."
Fannon moves to Springfield with his wife, Julie, an Ohio native and a graduate of Wittenberg's NCAC rival Hiram College, where she won the Ohio Athletic Conference title in heptathlon in 2005, and their daughter, Rowen.
Written By: Ryan Maurer
Photo Courtesy University of Wyoming