Upper Iowa University's Athletic Director David Miller announced that Brian Diaz will be the take the reigns as the head coach of the Peacock women's soccer program. Diaz spent the past five seasons at the University of South Alabama, an NCAA Division I member of the Sun Belt Conference, as the program's top assistant and helped the Jaguars earn their third-highest winning percentage in school history in 2011.
"I am pleased and excited to have Brian as the head coach of the UIU women's soccer program," Miller stated. "Coach Diaz's coaching and teaching philosophy, values and goals are parallel to those of the Upper Iowa. I am confident that his leadership will raise the level of play and overall development of our student-athletes. Our program is poised to take the next step and Brian will have an immediate and positive impact in reaching those aspirations."
The Peacock women's soccer team collected new program-highs in total wins and NSIC wins this past fall with a 15-
3-2 overall record and an 11-2-2 mark in the conference. Upper Iowa finished the season in third place in the conference and won their quarterfinal match in the US Bank/NSIC Women's Soccer Championship before losing a 2-1 decision to Winona State in the semifinals. The Peacocks were a constant in the NCAA regional rankings throughout the season, but came up just shy of their first regional berth.
Upper Iowa will return NSCAA All-Region Defender and All-NSIC Third Team performer Kelsey Taldone, as well as All-NSIC First Team Goalkeeper Amanda Smith and All-NSIC Honorable Mention Forward Kali Loescher. The Peacock defense finished the season with a .903 save percentage – tops among all 234 NCAA Division II programs. The team also posted the most shutouts in the NSIC during the 2012 season with 14.
Before his stint as the Jaguars' assistant coach in Mobile, Alabama, Diaz helped Newberry College, an NCAA Division II member of the South Atlantic Conference, earn its first national ranking in school history as an assistant coach. The Wolves recorded their best season in the program's history and a second-place finish in the SAC during Diaz's tenure in South Carolina. The team held a spot in the Southeast Regional rankings for the entire season and also received votes in the national poll, both program firsts. Diaz also coached four All-SAC players at Newberry, including goalkeeper Danielle Beckerle.
"It's very exciting to be here at Upper Iowa," Diaz said. "A great foundation has been laid by the previous coaching staff and I'm looking to build off of that. It's an exciting opportunity for these young ladies. They have worked hard and were close last year; now they want it even more. That is exactly what you want to see as their coach. I want to take that passion, build on it and exceed what they have been able to do in the past."
Prior to arriving at Newberry, Diaz accepted his first head coaching position in 2006 at Converse College in Spartanburg, S.C. During the previous three years, Diaz served as the assistant soccer coach at his alma mater – Tusculum College – where he helped the Pioneers post a 41-15-4 record, including a 13-6-2 mark in conference play. In those three seasons, TC captured two SAC Tournament titles in 2003 and in 2005, and the team made a pair of trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16 in 2003.
The Pioneers also earned a regular season conference championship in 2004 and ranked as high as number three in the country in 2003. The school was consistently ranked in the top five in their region. Overall, Diaz coached eight NSCAA All-Region players, 14 All-SAC players, 11 All-SAC Tournament players and two SAC Tournament MVPs, both of which were goalkeepers.
"The head coaches that I have had the opportunity to work for have been an amazing blessing," Diaz said. "They've been great mentors and great leaders on and off the field for me. They've shown me how to operate a successful program and how to produce excellent young women that we can send out into the world to be ambassadors of our program. I am committed to continuing that here at Upper Iowa."
In his playing days, Diaz spent three years at Tusculum College, helping the Pioneers secure the program's first SAC Tournament Championship in their Division II history back in 1999. Three years later, Diaz accepted his first assistant coaching position at East Tennessee State University. With his assistance, ETSU qualified for the Southern Conference Tournament for the first time and the Bucs' goalkeeper earned all-conference honors.
Last year, Diaz completed his Master's degree in Educational Leadership from the University of South Alabama. Diaz graduated with a B.A. in general management and sports management from Tusculum in May of 2002.
"This is an exciting time to be a part of this community," Diaz added. "These young women are going to work hard to exceed what they have done in the past and it's going to be fun to watch."
