In a surprise move, April Heinrichs has left her rising young Maryland program for ACC rival Virginia, replacing fellow North Carolina alumna and U.S. national team assistant coach Lauren Gregg, who resigned Dec. 6.
“Virginia is a wonderful opportunity for any coach, whether they’re young and aspiring or whether they’ve been around,” said Heinrichs, who was announced as the new Virginia coach Jan. 15. “It’s an attractive position because [UVa] is such a wonderful soccer school.”
Heinrichs, currently with the national team at a tournament in Brazil, ends a five-year stint at Maryland, which became one of the top programs in the country under her tenure. Her move shocked some, including Maryland senior forward Michelle Demko.
“Yeah, it was [a surprise],” said Demko from national team training camp in Florida. She was one of six U.S. players not chosen for the Brazil trip. “We didn’t feel she would leave. It’s kind of weird with her being out of the country, we aren’t able to ask her about it.”
The Terrapins, bearing the fruit of Heinrichs’ outstanding recruiting efforts of the past two years, earned a berth to the NCAA tournament for the first time ever this past fall, losing to eventual runner-up Portland in the quarterfinals.
The Terps finished with an 18-6-0 record in 1995 and had a 56-40-7 mark since 1991 under Heinrichs.
Virginia, which beat Maryland 4-0 in the regular season, ended with a 14-5-2 record, under Gregg, after losing to Santa Clara in the second round of the playoffs.