Diane Drake, who posted back-to-back 11-win seasons and won an ECAC championship at Georgetown University, is leaving the Hoyas to become head coach at George Mason.
Drake, the winningest coach in Georgetown's 11 seasons of women's soccer, was announced as Patriots coach on Tuesday, taking over for Jac Cicala, who resigned in January after 12 seasons (and 139 victories) as head coach. Drake is the third head women's soccer coach in GMU history; Hank Leung won 126 games in 10 seasons.
''This is an exciting opportunity to coach at a quality institution rich in history of women's soccer,'' Drake said in a release. ''George Mason is one of only a half a dozen schools to win an NCAA championship, and to be able to coach here is a true honor.''
Drake, who played at Dayton and with several W-League clubs, was 45-44-6 in five seasons as head coach at Georgetown, guiding the Hoyas to a school-best 11 victories in 2001 (11-7-1) and 2002 (11-7-0). Her teams twice qualified for the Big East Conference tournament and won the postseason ECAC tournament in 2001. Georgetown was 7-11-1 last season.
Two former George Mason standouts — former New York Power forward Tammy Pearman and 2003 graduate Naomi Hines — were on Drake's staff at Georgetown.
Drake previously was an assistant coach at Wright State, LSU and UNC Greensboro. She also is an ODP Region I staff coach.
George Mason in 22 years has been to four NCAA final fours, winning the 1985 championship, and played in 11 NCAA tournaments. The Patriots have not qualified for the NCAA playoffs since 1997.
Georgetown has not yet announced Drake's departure.
The move will cut down on Drake's commute to work. She lives in Centreville, Va., near George Mason's campus in Fairfax, Va., much closer than Georgetown's Washington campus.
NCAA DIVISION COACHING CHANGES/HIRES
Alabama State (SWAC) —New program scheduled to begin in 2004; no coaching hire announced
Arkansas (SEC) — Gordon Henderson (Idaho State head coach) for Alan Kirkup (contract not renewed)
Arkansas State (Sun Belt) — Jason Wharton (Cisco JC, Texas, head coach) for Kent Hefner (fired)
Cal State Northridge (Big West) — Tony Davila (CS Northridge men's head coach; will coach both teams) for Mac Thompson (interim coach)/Allison Lee (resigned)
Central Michigan (MAC) — Tony DiTucci (interim) for Mark Salisbury (hired at Idaho State)
Cleveland State (Horizon) — Derrek Fallor (DePaul assistant); first-year program
Davidson (Southern) — Tiffany Tisdale (interim) for Kevin Hundley (resigned)
George Mason (CAA) — Diane Drake (Georgetown head coach) for Jac Cicala (resigned)
Georgetown (Big East) — Open; Diane Drake (hired at George Mason
Georgia Southern (Southern) — Ashley Hart (UAB assistant) for Tom Norton (resigned)
Holy Cross (Patriot) — Deborah Flaherty (West Chester head coach) for Mary Curtis (resigned)
Idaho State (Big Sky) — Mark Salisbury (Central Michigan head coach) for Gordon Henderson (hired at Arkansas)
Mercer (Atlantic Sun) — Open; Jodie Smith (resigned)
Minnesota (Big Ten) — Mikki Denney Wright (Missouri assistant) for Barbara Wickstrand (contract not renewed)
Montana (Big Sky) — Neil Sedgwick (USC associate head coach) for Becky Duerksen (resigned)
Morehead State (Ohio Valley) — Greg Sheen (Dayton Soccer Academy coaching director) for Leslie Faber (resigned)
Nevada (WAC) — Teri Patraw (former Arizona State head coach) for Dang Pibulvech (contract not renewed)
San Diego State (Mountain West) — Angela Morrison (interim) for Chuck Clegg (retired)
San Jose State (WAC) — Dave Siracusa (San Diego State men's assistant) for Cris Gilmore (resigned)
Temple (Atlantic-10) — David Jones (Temple men's assistant, served as interim 2003) for Seamus McWilliams (resigned)
Tulsa (WAC) — Rena Richardson (Alabama assistant) for Damon Gore (resigned)
Vermont (America East) — Kerry Dziczkaniec (Maryland assistant) for Jodi Kenyon (resigned)
Youngstown State (Horizon) — Anthony James (West Virginia Wesleyan head coach) for Elizabeth Bartley (contract not renewed)