July 9, 2001

DURHAM, N.C. -- Robbie Church, the head women's soccer coach at Vanderbilt the past two seasons, was named women's soccer coach at Duke on Monday, Director of Athletics Joe Alleva announced.

"I am extremely excited and proud to be named the head women's soccer coach at Duke University," said Church. "It has been a lifelong dream of mine to become a part of Duke University and its athletic tradition."

As a women's college coach, Church compiled a 87-49-9 overall record in two years at Vanderbilt and five years at UNC Charlotte. He also coached men's college teams at East Carolina (1982-84), Belmont Abbey (1985-89) and Lynn University (1990). Throughout his 15 years as a college head coach, Church has amassed a record of 177-107-14 (.617). He was recognized as the Carolinas Conference and NAIA Coach of the Year in 1989 and the Conference USA Coach of the Year in 1997. In addition, Church was the NAIA South Region Coach of the Year in 1988 and 1989. He was also tabbed the NAIA District 26 Coach of the Year in 1988 and NAIA District 25 Coach of the Year in 1990.

Church began his coaching career at East Carolina where he served as head coach from 1982-1984. In 1984, he was a men's assistant coach at Duke under John Rennie. After the one-year stint with the Blue Devils, Church accepted the head coach/associate athletic director position at Belmont Abbey. Over the next five years, he led Belmont Abbey to a 69-35-1 record, while graduating 90 percent of his players. Included in that stretch were two Carolinas Conference championships and an NAIA National Tournament appearance in 1989.

Church moved on to the College of Boca Raton, currently Lynn University, in 1990, leading the men's team to an 18-4-1 ledger. In one season, he guided Boca Raton to the District 25 Championship and the NAIA National Finals.

In 1991, Church left the college ranks to become the head men's and women's soccer coach at Charlotte Country Day School. In three seasons at the helm of the men's program, Church compiled a 40-22-9 record, including a state finals appearance in 1993. The women's program was equally successful during his two seasons as head coach, tallying a 24-7-3 mark and the 1992 state championship.

Church became the head women's soccer coach at the UNC Charlotte in 1994, compiling a 66-30-8 record over the next five years. The 49ers won two Conference USA championships and reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history in 1998.

The veteran coach moved on to Vanderbilt in 1999, where the Commodores were SEC Tournament semifinalists in each of Church's two seasons, registering a 21-19-1 overall record.

Church was a NAIA All-South Region and all-conference performer during his playing days at Pfeiffer College, where he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998. He graduated from Pfeiffer with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Health and Physical Education in 1981.

Church replaces Bill Hempen, who accepted the women's head coaching position at Colorado in June.