June 15, 2005

LAS VEGAS - Michael Needham has been named assistant women's soccer coach at UNLV, head coach Katherine Mertz announced on Wednesday. Needham takes over for Colleen Caldwell, who resigned her position after two years with the Rebels to finish her graduate degree. Mertz also announced that Stephanie Rigamat will be staying on the coaching staff and begin her second year as assistant coach at UNLV.

"I am thrilled to have a quality staff in place with the addition of Michael and Stephanie," said Mertz. "It is important to have a quality staff to help maintain the success the program has had in the past, and both will bring an added element of professionalism and soccer knowledge to the team."

Needham comes to UNLV with seven years of collegiate coaching experience following a four-year playing career at Rhode Island, where he played for the top-25 ranked Rams from 1991-95. He remained at the school as an assistant coach for the women's team from 1996-97, before moving on to Connecticut College, where he was a volunteer assistant for the men's team while also serving as head boys coach for Mount St. John School in Deep River, Conn.

He then took a three-year break from the sport before returning as assistant women's coach at Drury in 2001 through this past season. Since 2004, he also acted as Director of Coaching at the United Soccer Academy Institute in Delray Beach, Fla.

In addition to his coaching career, Needham also played professionally following his graduation from Rhode Island, playing for Municipal Goecechea in San Jose, Costa Rica, in 1995, and for the Florida Strikers in Fort Lauderdale, Fla, in 1996. He received his bachelor of science degree in physical education and exercise science in 1996 from Rhode Island, and a masters degree in physical education from Drury in 2004.