Head women?s soccer coach Warren Lipka has announced the hiring of Erica Whatley to fill out his staff for the 2006 season.

Whatley comes to the Wildcats via Michigan State University where she was a four-year letter winner from 2000-03 while earning her degree in Telecommunications.

?I?m excited to be able to work with a program of this caliber, especially being able to work hand in hand with Warren and (assistant coach) Jerrod (Roh), learning from them will be a great experience for me,? said Whatley. ?I?m really excited to be able to work with this group of girls; they have an extraordinary amount of talent. It should be a really good season and I?m looking forward to making an impact on the program.?

While in Lansing, Whatley, a native of Lake Orion, Mich., played in 68 games, earning 27 starts. She switched from midfield to defender midway through her career. Her primary responsibilities with the Wildcats will be to assist in recruiting and daily program operations including travel plans, alumni relations and dealings with C.A.T.S.

?We?re excited to have her join us,? said Lipka. ?She had a great career at Michigan State where she received a lot of high praise from their coaching staff and administration. She brings a lot of valuable experience of not only playing in the NCAA Tournament but playing in the Big 10 conference that she?ll be able to share with our kids.?

The Wildcats open the 2006 campaign on August 25 at Cincinnati. The home opener is scheduled for September 1 when UK will host the Eastern Kentucky Colonels in the first round of the Kentucky Invitational.