Alvin J. Benoit
May 11, 2009
Breaking News: Mother guilty of children’s slayings
May 14, 2009
Dylan Harrison can safely say he will remember his 29th birthday.
The Napoleonville native was formally introduced as Nicholls State University’s fourth head soccer coach last Tuesday.
Hiring freezes at the university slowed athletic director Rob Bernardi’s search for a replacement for former soccer coach Cindy Piper, who left the post at the end of this year’s dismal season. But despite the delay, Bernardi said he’s found the right man to help turn the program around.
Harrison inherits a team that has floundered in recent years, going 2-16 last season.
“By surrounding ourselves with the right people, we know that we have the ability to succeed here,” he said. “There is already a good core group of ladies that have made a commitment not only to the university but also to this team.”
Harrison said the first step toward converting the team into a winner begins with recruiting.
“We’re looking toward the future and looking to bring in quality athletes,” he said. “No doubt we need to bring in some players who can raise the level of our performance.”
Harrison returns to his home state after spending the past two seasons at the helm of Division II Sewanee University’s women’s soccer program in Tennessee. Harrison compiled a 25-19-2 (.568) record in his two-year tenure, winning 10 games last season.
Prior to that, the son of Nicholls alums Kevin and Debbie Harrison served one season as an assistant coach for the men’s program at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio.
He was also named as a player to the All-Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference’s first team during his four years at Trinity University in Texas.
“It took me having to move away to actually be exposed to the sport,” he said. “Now, here I’m coming back, and not only is there a collegiate program, but there is a private donor who thinks it’s a special and important enough program to make that commitment (to build a new facility).”
Harrison joins the Nicholls staff at an uncertain time, however. With state budget cuts looming, the university is tightly trimming its budget.
The coach remains optimistic. “There’s always that concern, but I was affirmed (the soccer program) is here to stay,” he said. “It may not be as big profile as some other sports, but they made that commitment to not only myself but also the team to give them all the necessary tools.”
Bernardi confirmed that the soccer program isn’t going anywhere.
“We are definitely committed to the sport,” he said. “The soccer program is important to our university. This has been a struggling program and it’s clearly not where we want it to be. Hopefully, we’re not putting too much pressure on Dylan, but we expect this program to advance. I think he is the person to do that.”
Kristen Fillmore, who has been the interim coach since Piper’s resignation, will retain her duties as the team’s assistant coach.
Harrison said he and Fillmore are already working together.
“We’ve already had some discussions about what needs to be done,” he said. “My first obligation is to the team. In the past, they may not have had quite the experience that they deserve, so I’m just looking to come in and give them all the things they need to succeed.”
Dylan Harrison talks about his plans to reverse the Nicholls women’s soccer team’s losing slide at last week’s press conference.
