Stone resigns as soccer coach at Tech to take over prestigious Florida prep program

By TTU Sports Information

May 19, 2003

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Tech Soccer Coach Greg Stone has resigned his position after four successful seasons to become head coach at North Broward Prep School in Coconut Creek, Florida, just outside Boca Raton.

"North Broward Prep School is a very prestigious school with very high academic standards. It has a very good reputation and the athletic director there has been pursuing me for some time," said Stone. "This is a great opportunity for me and it really interested me because it is located close to my family in southern Florida.

"Leaving Tennessee Tech is a difficult decision for me because the administration has been very supportive of me and the program. The players we've brought into the program have worked extremely hard to build the program and I will miss the relationships I have built with them over the years."

Stone certainly set some very high standards for future coaches. Before he came to the Golden Eagles in 1999, Tech's women's soccer program had an all-time record of 11-30-4. Stone turned that around immediately and picked up seven wins his first season. Since then, he has put together three straight seasons of 12 wins while playing a full Division I schedule.

"Well, Greg has certainly brought the women's soccer program at Tennessee Tech a long way since he took over," said Mike Hennigan, Tech's interim athletic director. "He worked hard to make the program as strong it could possibly be and dedicated himself to making the players as successful off the field as they were on the field. Each year, Greg continued to bring in a high quality of athlete and that speaks well for the future of the program."

Hennigan added that the search to replace Stone would begin immediately with the goal of having a new coach hired by July 1 and working no later than July 15.

"Coach Stone has done a terrific job here at Tech and we're going to miss him. However, I wish him the best and know he will be very successful at his new position," said assistant athletic director Frank Harrell. "Greg's hard work and dedication over the last four years has raised the soccer program to a new level both on the field and in the classroom, and has insured that the applicant pool to replace him will be of the utmost quality."

That he has. Stone's overall coaching record is 184-75-7 over 14 seasons and makes him one of the winningest coaches in Division I soccer. He helped guide Tech to the Ohio Valley Conference tournament in each of his four seasons, capturing the championship in 2001 and leading Tech to its first NCAA Tournament appearance.

Stone leaves the Golden Eagle program with a tremendous legacy. Under his guidance, Tech has rewritten the soccer record book. The Golden Eagles have set new school marks for best winning percentage, most regular season victories, fewest losses in a season, most goals scored and fewest goals surrendered.

"We've accomplished a great deal over the last four years and that speaks well for the players and the work of my coaching staff. Before I got here, we didn't have a locker room or even a field. Now, all those things are in place," said Stone. "The future looks bright for the Tech soccer program. With the great recruits coming in and the strong players coming back, next year's squad will be by far the best team Tech has ever put on the field. Tech is now a well-respected soccer program and the future looks bright for the Golden Eagles."