Penn State has promoted assistant coach Paula Wilkins to head coach, replacing Pat Farmer, who left the Nittany Lions to coach the WUSA’s New York Power. “Paula was the obvious choice to head our women’s soccer team,” Penn State athletic director Tim Curley said. “She has been an integral part of the program’s success from the beginning and has a very bright future ahead of her. She will continue the momentum and launch the team to new heights.” Wilkins, who becomes just the second head coach in Penn State’s seven-year history, replaces Farmer, who resigned his position with the school on Dec. 4. Wilkins has been involved with the Penn State program since its inception in 1994. “I’m very excited to take over the head coaching position at Penn State,” Wilkins said, “and to continue the success Coach Farmer and I have built over the last seven years.” “The team is really excited,” team captain Megan Mills said of Wilkins’ promotion. “We all backed Paula from the beginning after Farmer announced his departure. We think it’s great, because Paula has been here since the beginning. She knows the team, and she knows what it takes for us to win. We’re just excited.” In seven seasons as the Nittany Lions’ assistant coach, Wilkins assisted in the recruiting process. She also helped to improve the team’s training habits and to mold the defense. Penn State is a program on the rise. Farmer coached the Nittany Lions to the 1999 Women’s College Cup. This fall, they advanced to their sixth consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, a third straight quarterfinal appearance, and an unprecedented third consecutive Big Ten Championship. PSU finished 22-3-1 overall and a perfect 10-0-0 in conference play. PSU recorded a school-best 22 wins and re-wrote the team season records for shutouts (17), fewest goals allowed (11), and lowest goals-against average (0.40). The Big Ten champions also garnered the league’s Player of the Year award, which went to Christie Welsh, for the second straight year and the league’s Freshman of the Year award, which went to Joanna Lohman and was PSU’s third consecutive freshman honor. In her seven-year tenure in State College, Wilkins has tutored a four-time first team All-Big Ten selection and four-time NSCAA Regional All-American in Rachel Hoffman, as well as first-team NSCAA national All-America and All-Big Ten honorees Kelly Convey, Emily Oleksiuk and Welsh. She’s coached 16 first-team All-Big Ten honorees, and 67 Academic All-Big Ten honorees. A three-time participant in the NCAA Tournament herself, Wilkins was instrumental in preparing the Nittany Lions for their first NCAA appearance in 1995. Wilkins came to Happy Valley after four outstanding seasons as a defender at the University of Massachusetts. The Middletown, Pa., native was captain of the Minutewomen squad which went 17-3-3 and reached the 1993 NCAA final four. For her efforts, she was named All-Atlantic 10, All-New England, and first-team All-Northeast Region. With a 3.85 grade-point average, she was a GTE/CoSIDA District Academic All-American. She graduated in 1994 with a degree in exercise science. In her collegiate career, Wilkins netted seven goals and 18 assists. She earned second-team Adidas Scholar-Athlete All-America honors in 1992. “I decided to pursue coaching not only because I love the sport, but the tactical aspect of the game is very appealing to me,” Wilkins said upon her hiring in 1994. At Middletown Area High School, Wilkins was an NSCAA Youth All-American. She also played on a regional Olympic development program team that toured Sweden and Denmark. She is currently in her third year as a member of the East Region Olympic Development staff. During the summer of 1997, Wilkins competed for the W-League’s Boston Renegades, marking the third consecutive season she has played in the league. In 1996 and 1995, she played for the Philadelphia Frenzy. Wilkins also holds an NSCAA Advanced National Coaching diploma and USSF “B” Coaching license. During the summer of 1999, she provided game support for the Women’s World Cup venues on the East Coast.