Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University vice-president and director of athletics Steve Poston announces the appointment of Chip Wiggins as head women's soccer coach. The Bulldog family will have an opportunity to meet Chip Wiggins at a 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 14 press conference in LaVerne Banquet Hall on the Wingate campus. The Wingate University Sports Network will provide a free video stream.

Wiggins has 19-plus years coaching experience in college, high school and youth soccer. He served two stints as an assistant coach at Wingate. He served as assistant head coach for men's and women's soccer from August 1996 until May 1998. In addition, Wiggins was the men's and women's goalkeeper coach from February 2007 until June 2010. Wiggins played soccer at Wingate and Charleston Southern.

Most recently, Wiggins has served six years as the Executive Director of Coaching for the Mecklenburg Union Futbol Club in Charlotte. His duties include overseeing all phases of a comprehensive girls' and boys' soccer program for over 400 players. Wiggin has served as co-tournament director, fund-raising/sponsorships director and goalkeeper academy director, among his many duties. As the Club's field maintenance coordinator, Wiggins oversees three soccer complexes in Charlotte.

"We are thrilled to welcome Chip back to Wingate," Poston says. "It is not often that an athletic director has this opportunity. Chip had an exceptional playing career at Wingate. He has distinguished himself as a coach at the University level and through his club and youth soccer experiences. Chip is held in high regard as a coach and a mentor."

Wiggins coached the Missouri Western State University women's soccer team during its inaugural season. He recruited 24 student-athletes in less than four months. At Ottawa (Kan.) University, Wiggins was the head women's and men's soccer coach for three seasons. He helped the Braves win 44 women's soccer matches during his tenure.

While at Ottawa, Wiggins led the women's program to three Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) tournament titles and two regular season crowns. The Braves participated in the NAIA national tournament on three occasions. Wiggins was named the KCAC women's soccer Coach of the Year twice. He recorded the most women's soccer victories in the school's history.

Wiggins' college coaching resume also includes stints at the University of Maine at Presque Isle (women's assistant head coach for two-plus seasons) and Charleston Southern University (women's and men's assistant head coach for two-plus seasons). Wiggins holds an NSCAA Advanced National Diploma with a Goalkeeping I and II certificate. He has earned an FA Psychology of Coaching certificate as well.

The head girls' soccer coach at Butler High School for one season, Wiggins helped the Bulldogs win their first-ever conference championship. Butler advanced to the 4A state play-off quarterfinals. Wiggins led the Monroe High School girls' soccer team to its first-ever play-off appearance and 15 victories during his only season with the Redhawk program.

At Lee (Maine) Academy, Wiggins served as the head girls' soccer coach and assistant athletic director for one season. He helped Lee win 21 matches, while advancing to the state championship finals. Lee won the conference title and the Eastern Maine championship. In addition to his coaching and administrative duties, Wiggins served as a physical education instructor at Lee.

Wiggins has played for the Charleston Battery Reserves and the South Carolina Olympic Development Team. His camp coaching resume includes 17 years with the Wingate International Soccer Academy. Wiggins has four years with the Ralph Lundy Soccer Camp and two years with the Clemson Soccer Academy.

What They Are Saying

Wingate University vice-president and director of athletics Steve Poston:
 
"Chip Wiggins surfaced as the leading candidate (for this position) among several exceptional candidates. There was high interest in this opportunity. Chip Wiggins is the right person at the right time to lead our women's soccer program."
 
Wingate University head women's soccer coach Chip Wiggins:
 
"I am going to put my heart and soul into my work at Wingate University. I've built my career through stops in Kansas, Maine and Missouri, but I've always wanted to get back to Wingate. I've waited for this opportunity…I've had my eye on this job (in the past), but the timing was never right."
 
"My team will be very hard-working and attack-minded. I cannot wait to get started."
 
Wingate University Director of Soccer and head men's soccer coach Gary Hamill:
 
"I am excited to be working with Chip Wiggins again. He will build on the foundation Gary Curneen and others have built. We believe this is a great transition for the Wingate University women's soccer program."
 
Fort Hays State University head men's soccer coach Brett Parker:
 
"It's great to see Coach Wiggins getting back into coaching the college game. His passion for soccer is second-to-none…he had a big influence on me as a student-athlete. Chip's coaching style and work ethic are characteristics I have adopted into my philosophy as coach.

WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Wingate University, ranked as the 6th "best value" in the South by U.S. News & World Report, serves nearly 2,700 students on three campuses in Wingate, Matthews and Hendersonville, N.C. Founded in 1896, the University offers 35 undergraduate majors, 37 minors and career concentrations, numerous pre-professional programs, graduate degrees in business, accounting, education, physician assistant studies and sport administration, and doctorates in pharmacy and education.
 
With a 14 to 1 student/teacher ratio, Wingate students gain the tools and support needed to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. To view current news, video and story ideas, visit www.youtube.com/wingateuniversity.
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past six years.
 
Wingate is first among NCAA Division II Academic All-America®-producing private colleges in the 2000's with 52 selections. Among North Carolina's colleges and universities, Wingate's 52 Academic All-America® honorees are tied for first (with Duke University) during this millennium. Wingate's 61 lifetime Academic All-America® picks are tops among all SAC schools. For more information, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com.