June 26, 2008

NEWARK, NJ - Manda Risden is the new assistant coach of the NJIT women's soccer team, head coach Kevin Leacock announced.

Risden, a New Jersey native, returns to her home state after four years as an assistant coach at Brown. She joined the Bears following a four-year coaching stint at Rutgers University as an assistant/goalkeeper coach.

While with the Scarlet Knights, Risden helped to lead Rutgers to two NCAA Tournament appearances, advancing to the 2001 Sweet Sixteen, and the 2003 Second Round.

While at Rutgers, Risden has also served as an Assistant Director/Goalkeeping Director at the Glenn Crooks Girls Soccer School since 2000.

In addition to collegiate coaching experience, Risden helped to lead the 85 Girls (NJ ODP) to a Region I Championship in 2000, and the 85 Girls (NJ DOP) to the ODP National Championships in 2001. She also served as the 87 and 88 Girls (NJ ODP) Goalkeeper Coach in 2001.

A 1999 graduate of Auburn University with a B.S. in Education, Risden was a standout performer for the Tigers from 1997-1998, after transferring from Clemson University, where she spent three seasons. She was captain for the 1998 Auburn soccer team and she received an Auburn Scholar Athlete Award. She served on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee at both Clemson and Auburn and appeared in the most minutes in a single-season at Auburn during the 1998 season.

At NJIT, Risden fills the assistant coach position that was held by Leacock until he was elevated to head coach earlier this year.

"We are very excited to have Manda join the Highlander coaching staff," said Leacock. "Her years of experience and knowledge of the game will be a major asset as we continue to build and mold our program into a competitive force within Division I soccer.

"Given her background, she will also add value to the recruiting process as we strive to engage student-athletes of a high caliber that not only excel in the classroom, but can perform at high levels on the field."

Leacock, who spent three seasons as an assistant coach at NJIT, ran the program from late March 2008 until the end of the school year and he was named head coach in May.

NJIT was 4-14-1 in 2007, its second season of NCAA Division I competition. Those Highlanders were 4-1-1 from October 24, 2007 on.

The 2008 squad is scheduled to open its season on Tuesday, August 26 at 7 pm vs. Army in West Point, NY.