Dec. 16, 2008
LEXINGTON, KY –
Jon Lipsitz has been named the new head coach of the University of Kentucky women’s soccer team as announced by UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart on Tuesday.
Lipsitz, who owns a career record of 101-33-8 (.739) in seven seasons, comes to Lexington after spending the last four seasons as the head coach at Charlotte where he guided the 49ers to a 58-23-4 (.706) record including three straight Atlantic 10 titles in 2006, ’07 and ’08. Each season, Charlotte increased their win total going from 11 in 2005, to 13 in 2006, to 16 in 2007, to a school record 18 in 2008. Lipsitz capped the record breaking season with an NCAA second round appearance, defeating the Tennessee Lady Vols 2-0 in the first round. The 49ers finished the 2008 campaign ranked fifth nationally in scoring (3.00) and 19th in shutout percentage (56.5).
“First, I’d like to offer a tremendous thank you to (Athletics Director) Mitch Barnhart and (Associate Athletics Director) John Cropp for this wonderful opportunity,” said Lipsitz. “This is an athletic department, and the women’s soccer program in particular, that has been dear to my heart for a long time. I’ve enjoyed supporting the program in the past, and I feel honored to be the chosen leader of this program going forward. This is a special place, and a special city, that really supports this university and its athletic department. I’m excited about our future and I’m ready to get to work for the University of Kentucky.
“I would be remiss if I didn’t thank (Athletics Director) Judy Rose, (Associate Athletics Director) Kim Whitestone and everyone else at Charlotte for the wonderful opportunity they gave me there. The Charlotte women’s soccer program is in good standing and I know they’ll continue their success in the future.”
“Jon Lipsitz possesses all the qualities we look for in a head coach,” said Barnhart. “He is a tireless worker both on and off the field, proven by his highly ranked recruiting classes and the success his teams have had on the field and in the classroom. He will make the University of Kentucky and citizens around the Commonwealth proud.”
In his four seasons at Charlotte, he guided the 49ers to 34 A-10 wins with a Carolinas’ Cup title, three A-10 regular season titles, two A-10 Tournament titles and two NCAA Tournament appearances. The 49ers’ success on the field during Lipsitz’s tenure translated into recruiting success, as well. The past two springs, he signed two of the highest-ranked recruiting classes in the program’s history including the 19th-ranked class in the nation according to Soccer Buzz in 2007. While in Charlotte, he also coached seven Academic All-Americans and two athletic All-Americans.
Before taking over the 49ers women’s soccer program, Lipsitz spent four seasons (2001-04) as assistant coach for national-power Ohio State. During his four seasons with the Buckeyes, he was the chief recruiter for a program that won 52 games, two Big Ten Tournament titles and made three straight trips to the NCAA Tournament. In 2004, Ohio State won a school-record 19 games en route to an NCAA Tournament Elite Eight appearance. His efforts produced nationally-ranked recruiting classes, including players that earned freshman All-American honors in each of his last two seasons in Columbus.
Prior to his time at Ohio State, Lipsitz spent three seasons at NCAA Division III Denison University where he tallied a 43-10-4 record in three seasons.
Lipsitz is no stranger to the UK women’s soccer program. He served as the Director of Coaching and Player Development for the Ohio Premier Girls’ Soccer Club from 1993 to 2005, which produced former Kentucky standouts Annie Gage and Elizabeth Ramsey, as well as current seniors Tara Herold and Kristin Kover.
Lipsitz has also served as a Regional Staff Coach for the Region 3 Olympic Development Program, as well as the 1991 North Carolina ODP Head Coach. He holds the United States Soccer Federation “A” license.
The Chapel Hill, North Carolina native graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina in 1993. He earned a Master’s of Education from Ohio State in 1998.
Lipsitz and his wife, Kathryn have two sons Zachary (12) and Max (4).
