U.S. Women's National Team assistant coach Phil Wheddon (center) won a gold medal with the 2004 team in Athens. Kristen Luckenbill (left) and Brianna Scurry (right) were goalkeepers for the team.
U.S. Women's National Team Assistant Coach Phil Wheddon Named Orange Head Coach
3/26/2008 3:13:02 PM | Women's Soccer
SYRACUSE – Phil Wheddon, an assistant coach and the goalkeeper coach for the United States Women's National Soccer Team, is Syracuse University's new women's soccer coach, director of athletics Dr. Daryl Gross announced today. Wheddon will join Syracuse full-time after the 2008 Beijing Olympics, providing the U.S. Women's National Team qualifies in April. The U.S. WNT is in camp at The Home Depot Center in preparation for the 2008 CONCACAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying tournament which is April 2-12 in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Wheddon was a staff member of two Women’s Soccer FIFA World Cup teams and the 2004 Athens Olympic gold medal squad.
“Phil is another great coach to join Syracuse athletics,” Gross said. “He has coached the best soccer athletes in the world and has been part of world championships and Olympic success. His knowledge of soccer is unmatched, he has tremendous teaching skills and his international experience will enhance Syracuse women’s soccer and provide our student-athletes with the most extraordinary experience. He will take Syracuse soccer to new heights and establish a culture that fosters success on and off the field.”
Wheddon, who is the third coach in SU women's soccer history, became the national team's goalkeeper coach in 2002 and helped lead the team to a third place finish in the 2003 World Cup. A year later, his team won the gold medal in Athens, defeating Brazil, 2-1.
“To become a head coach at the collegiate level after all of my experience at the international level is a great next step,” Wheddon said. “Being part of the US soccer federation has afforded me some great opportunities. It has helped me prepare for the next step in my coaching career. I have been fortunate to have worked with some of the best coaches in the world and the best people. I appreciate all of them. I have won an Olympic gold medal and coached in the men’s and women’s World Cup. These experiences put me in a great position to lead Syracuse.
“Syracuse is in a great conference in a great location and has a great reputation. There is no reason Syracuse can’t be competing for a national championship on a regular basis. I am really excited about that possibility and to be part of one of the best athletics departments in the country with a fantastic reputation nationally.”
In 2005, Wheddon became the assistant coach and goalkeeper coach with the U.S. Men's National Team, which won the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup and competed in the 2006 World Cup. He returned to his position with the women's national team and helped the squad to a third place finish in the 2007 World Cup. His responsibilities with the national team include video analysis, international scouting, fitness training, game day operations, team preparation and player development and evaluation.
Wheddon began his collegiate coaching career at Southern Connecticut State University in 1997. He was an assistant and goalkeeper coach for the men’s and women's teams through 2000, including the men’s 1998 and 1999 Division II National Championship seasons.
In 2000, he served as the goalkeeper coach for the NY/NJ MetroStars of MLS, which won the 2000 Eastern Division Title, before becoming an assistant coach for the Boston Breakers of the WUSA in 2001 and 2002.
A native of a native of Basingstoke, England, Wheddon earned a Higher National Degree in business and finance with a sports coaching minor from Crewe and Alsager College in Crewe, England in 1989. He earned a bachelor of arts in physical education and sports management from East Stroudsburg University in 1994. Wheddon has a U.S. national "A" coaching license and has been a U.S. National Licensing instructor since 2001. He played professional soccer in the U.S. and England.
For more on Wheddon, visit his website gkone.com.
For more on Wheddon, visit his website gkone.com.
SIDEARM TEST 9.23
Sunday, May 17
Jamir Brown Post-Race Interview
Sunday, May 17
Jamir Brown Wins the ACC Championship
Sunday, May 17
Postgame press Conference | NCAA Quarterfinal
Saturday, May 16
