Kwame Lloyd Selected As New Wittenberg Women's Soccer Head Coach

Kwame Lloyd

Springfield, Ohio — Wittenberg Director of Athletics and Recreation Garnett Purnell has announced the hiring of Kwame Lloyd as the university's new women's soccer head coach. Lloyd replaces Norm Riker, who resigned in May to take the same position at Connecticut College.

Most recently, Lloyd was an assistant coach at Gardner Webb University, where he was responsible for coordinating recruiting activities and evaluating prospective student-athletes. He also managed team travel and acted as the program's liaison to the compliance and academic services directors.

"I would like to thank Garnett Purnell and the committee for giving me the opportunity to lead the women's soccer program," said Lloyd. "The academic and athletic reputation of Wittenberg University is a good fit for me and my family.

"I plan to continue the standard of excellence set by Norm and take it to the next level. I am also appreciative to Gardner Webb University for allowing me to influence the women's soccer program over the past few months."

Lloyd was named Most Outstanding Freshman in 1988 at Lincoln University before transferring to Susquehanna University and earning three letters in both soccer and track & field. He was the soccer team's Most Valuable Player in 1990 and he served as team captain for the track team in 1992 and 1993. After earning his bachelor's degree in political science from Susquehanna, he played one year with the Harrisburg Heat of the National Professional Soccer League.

Lloyd returned to his alma mater to begin his coaching career, serving as head coach of the women's soccer team and assistant coach of the women's lacrosse team from 1994-97. From there, he went to Whittier College for four years as director of soccer and women's lacrosse coach. He oversaw all management and administration for the men's and women's soccer and women's lacrosse programs, served as an NCAA Regional Committee member, taught a fitness and wellness course and directed an annual soccer camp.

From 2001-08, Lloyd served as head coach of both the women's soccer and women's lacrosse teams at Christopher Newport University. He led the soccer team to four USA South Athletic Conference regular season titles, three USA South Tournament crowns and three appearances in the NCAA Division III Tournament, including a national quarterfinal finish in 2004. His lacrosse teams won three regular season and two tournament titles in conference play and advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament twice.

Along the way, Lloyd earned four USA South women's soccer Coach of the Year designations and three USA women's lacrosse Coach of the Year awards. He also was named VaSID All-State Coach of the Year in 2004.

Lloyd's last head coaching stop came at the University of Vermont between 2008 and 2010. His career women's soccer coaching record now stands at 114-106-16, including a mark of 107-64-12 at the NCAA Division III level.

He inherits a program that has posted winning records in each of the last seven years, posting double digit win totals in each of those seasons. Along the way, the Tigers won four North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Tournament titles between 2006 and 2009 and one NCAC regular season crown. In 2010, Wittenberg finished with records of 13-5-1 overall and 5-2-0 in the NCAC regular season.

"Wittenberg's Department of Athletics and the women's soccer team will miss Norm Riker and what he has accomplished during his tenure," Purnell said. "We are fortunate to have someone with Kwame's experience to take over and lead the program from this point on.

"I believe Kwame has many of the same qualities and values that Norn had as our head coach and will continue to keep Wittenberg women's soccer as one of the top programs in the North Coast Athletic Conference."

Written By: Ryan Maurer

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