Northwood Announces Soccer Coaching Staff Changes

Release courtesy of Travis McCurdy, NU Sports Information Director

MIDLAND, Mich. - The Northwood University Department of Intercollegiate athletics has announced a restructuring of its varsity men's and women's soccer programs.

Doug Carter, who has served as the head coach of both the men's and women's programs since 1998, will now coach exclusively with the men. Dean Pappas, the top assistant for Carter the past two seasons, has been promoted to head coach of the women's program.

"We are all excited about having head coaches for both our men's and women's programs," said Athletic Director Pat Riepma. "With the expansion of the GLIAC and the changing landscape in college soccer over the past few seasons, we found it very difficult for one person to coach both programs. Having two head coaches allows our student-athletes to have the very best chance to compete at the highest level."

Carter has won 91 games with the women's program since 1998 and has 65 victories with the men since the inception of the program in 2001. He was named the Great Lakes Region men's coach of the year in 2003 and the GLIAC Coach of the Year in 2004. Carter led the men's program to the GLIAC Tournament all four years of the event's existence, including a trip to the finals in 2007.

Pappas has been at Northwood for a total of three seasons. He helped the women's team reach the GLIAC Tournament for the first time in 2009. Pappas was a big part of Amanda Watson earning GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2010, becoming the first player in school history to earn the honor. Pappas previously had served as the head coach of Saginaw Valley State's men's program from 2002-03.

The men's team posted a 7-7-4 record last season, while the women's program went 8-10 a year ago.