Doug Shank Pride Women's Soccer Head Coach

  
Doug Shank has just completed his third season at the helm of the Women’s Soccer program and once again led the Pride to one of their most successful seasons in program history.  His overall coaching record of 27-24-3 makes him the winningest coach in Pride history and is the only women’s soccer coach to have an above .500 career winning percentage and earn Dixie Coach of the Year Honors, (2001).

Under his direction, the Pride has transformed from a below average program into a South Regional power.  This past season, the Pride finished at 10-10 playing one of the toughest schedules in the nation.  The difficult schedule paid dividends as the team won its first Dixie Conference Tournament Championship, earned a birth into the Division III National Tournament and finished the season ranked 10th in the South Region.  In addition, 4 players were named to the Dixie All-Conference Team, 5 selected to the Dixie All-Tournament Team and special post-season accolades were received by Freshman Jessica Upchurch (Dixie Tournament MVP) and Amanda McGlaughlin (Dixie Conference Rookie of the Year and Regional All-American). 

However, Shank refuses to take the credit for himself and insists that the players and staff should be commended for the programs accomplishments.  Says Coach Shank “There are many people in this program who work extremely hard to ensure success.  Pride Soccer family members are people who understand the value of opportunity and the demands of hard work, two essential ingredients of success.  Together, we have only begun to scratch the surface of what this program will accomplish.”

In addition to his responsibilities at Greensboro College, Shank holds several positions on the youth level of the game.  He is a coaching staff member for US Soccer (Region I), NC Olympic Development Program, NC Coaching Schools, Triangle Futbol Club and former Head Coach of the W-League Greensboro Twisters (formerly Piedmont Spark).  “Working with so many players, on all different levels, is truly an enjoyable and rewarding experience,” Shank states.  “I am fortunate to have the opportunity to develop both youth and senior level players.” 

Shank currently holds a USSF “A” License and a NSCAA Advanced National Diploma. 
He received his undergraduate degree in Community Recreation from York College of Pennsylvania (1991) and a Masters Degree in Sports Administration from United States Sports Academy (1993).  He is currently pursuing a second Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology and plans to continue on for his PhD.   

Prior coming to Greensboro College Shank was regarded as one of the brightest, young coaches in New Jersey and under his guidance teams have experienced nothing but success, on every level.  

At the helm of Roxbury High School (Succasunna, NJ) for four seasons, the program posted a 65-16-2 record, won 2 league titles, 2 county titles, 3 state-sectional championships and 1 state championship.  The team finished twice in the USA Today/NSCAA National Rankings, 16th (1997) and 3rd (1998).  He mentored 25 all-conference, 35 all-county, 19 all-state and 3 regional all-american players.  Shank himself was named New Jersey Coach of the Year (1997 and 1998) and NSCAA East Region Coach of the Year in 1998.

On the club and ODP levels, his teams have won countless league and tournament titles, 5 State Championships, 2 Region I Championships and earned a semi-final birth as a National Semi-Finalist in 2001.

In addition, Shank was an owner of USA Soccer (Gladstone, NJ).  A coaching education company dedicated to the growth and development of youth players.