Kerrigan Steps Down As Women's Soccer Coach
11/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
RALEIGH, N.C. NC State Director of Athletics Lee Fowler announced Monday that head women’s soccer coach Laura Kerrigan is stepping down after 11 seasons.
Kerrigan’s 2008 team was 8-12 and finished 11th in the Atlantic Coast Conference. She compiled an overall record of 87-107-16.
“I appreciate the opportunity I was given to work with such tremendous student-athletes, coaches, administrators and staff here at NC State,” said Kerrigan. “This university and the people here hold many special memories for me, and it has been a pleasure to serve the NC State athletics community. It has been amazing what our Athletic Director, Lee Fowler, and Senior Associate Athletic Director, David Horning, have been able to accomplish in terms of facilities improvements for all of the teams here at NC State over the past few years. I am confident that the next women’s soccer coach will enjoy coaching the talented young players currently here and will be able to fully utilize the new soccer stadium in recruiting new players to the program. As an alumnus of this university, I will always have strong ties to NC State and I will always be rooting for the Wolfpack.”
"We are very thankful to Laura Kerrigan for her 11 years of loyal service and dedication to NC State," said Fowler. "She recruited some outstanding young women to NC State and her teams always performed with class, integrity and sportsmanship."
“She instilled the same dedication in her players that she showed during her time as an all-time great Wolfpack athlete and more importantly an all-time great student-athlete.”
Seven straight years the Pack earned the Team Academic Award by the NSCAA.
Kerrigan was hired on December 8, 1997, as the third head coach in program history.
As an undergraduate at NC State from 1985-89, Kerrigan was one of the most honored and accomplished student-athletes in school history. Athletically, she was one of the cornerstones of the program as NC State established itself as a women’s soccer powerhouse in the 1980s. She joined the program in just its second year of existence and captained the Wolfpack to the 1988 ACC championship and a spot in the NCAA’s national championship game.
Kerrigan earned All-America honors in 1985 and 1986 and ranks second in program history in goals (53) and points (135). Additionally, her 54 points in 1986 ranks as the second-highest total in school history.
Kerrigan’s individual success was mirrored by team accomplishments for the program. While Kerrigan was at NC State, the Wolfpack won an ACC championship, made four NCAA Tournament appearances, and twice advanced to the NCAA Final Four.
As a senior in 1988, Kerrigan helped lead the Wolfpack to a 19-2-3 record and a No. 2 national ranking. NC State that year won the inaugural ACC Tournament (Kerrigan’s penalty kick in the championship game provided the winning point) and advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s national championship game.
Academically, Kerrigan was a three-time Academic All-American and won the H.C. Kennett Award in 1989 as NC State’s top student-athlete after maintaining a 4.0 GPA for four years in accounting. She made the NC State Dean’s List eight times, was named to the ACC’s Honor Roll four times, and was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.
Kerrigan concluded her academic career by graduating summa cum laude and serving as class valedictorian for NC State’s class of 1989.
NC State will conduct a national search immediately to replace Kerrigan.
Kerrigan’s 2008 team was 8-12 and finished 11th in the Atlantic Coast Conference. She compiled an overall record of 87-107-16.
“I appreciate the opportunity I was given to work with such tremendous student-athletes, coaches, administrators and staff here at NC State,” said Kerrigan. “This university and the people here hold many special memories for me, and it has been a pleasure to serve the NC State athletics community. It has been amazing what our Athletic Director, Lee Fowler, and Senior Associate Athletic Director, David Horning, have been able to accomplish in terms of facilities improvements for all of the teams here at NC State over the past few years. I am confident that the next women’s soccer coach will enjoy coaching the talented young players currently here and will be able to fully utilize the new soccer stadium in recruiting new players to the program. As an alumnus of this university, I will always have strong ties to NC State and I will always be rooting for the Wolfpack.”
"We are very thankful to Laura Kerrigan for her 11 years of loyal service and dedication to NC State," said Fowler. "She recruited some outstanding young women to NC State and her teams always performed with class, integrity and sportsmanship."
“She instilled the same dedication in her players that she showed during her time as an all-time great Wolfpack athlete and more importantly an all-time great student-athlete.”
Seven straight years the Pack earned the Team Academic Award by the NSCAA.
Kerrigan was hired on December 8, 1997, as the third head coach in program history.
As an undergraduate at NC State from 1985-89, Kerrigan was one of the most honored and accomplished student-athletes in school history. Athletically, she was one of the cornerstones of the program as NC State established itself as a women’s soccer powerhouse in the 1980s. She joined the program in just its second year of existence and captained the Wolfpack to the 1988 ACC championship and a spot in the NCAA’s national championship game.
Kerrigan earned All-America honors in 1985 and 1986 and ranks second in program history in goals (53) and points (135). Additionally, her 54 points in 1986 ranks as the second-highest total in school history.
Kerrigan’s individual success was mirrored by team accomplishments for the program. While Kerrigan was at NC State, the Wolfpack won an ACC championship, made four NCAA Tournament appearances, and twice advanced to the NCAA Final Four.
As a senior in 1988, Kerrigan helped lead the Wolfpack to a 19-2-3 record and a No. 2 national ranking. NC State that year won the inaugural ACC Tournament (Kerrigan’s penalty kick in the championship game provided the winning point) and advanced to the NCAA Tournament’s national championship game.
Academically, Kerrigan was a three-time Academic All-American and won the H.C. Kennett Award in 1989 as NC State’s top student-athlete after maintaining a 4.0 GPA for four years in accounting. She made the NC State Dean’s List eight times, was named to the ACC’s Honor Roll four times, and was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.
Kerrigan concluded her academic career by graduating summa cum laude and serving as class valedictorian for NC State’s class of 1989.
NC State will conduct a national search immediately to replace Kerrigan.
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