Wingate's Hamill Chosen as Southeast Region Coach of the Year
Wingate University head men's soccer coach Gary Hamill has been selected as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division II Southeast Region Coach of the Year, the organization has announced.
KANSAS CITY - Wingate University head men's soccer coach Gary Hamill has been selected as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division II Southeast Region Coach of the Year, the organization has announced.
Hamill helped Wingate (13-6-1 overall) win its first-ever NCAA regional title and advance to the Elite Eight for the first time in school history.
Wingate completed the 2012 season as the number nine team in the final NSCAA/Continental Tires NCAA Division II top 25 poll. In 21 seasons as the Wingate men's soccer coach, Hamill has compiled an overall record of 249-135-19. He has received more South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year honors than any other men's soccer coach in SAC history.
"We set out from the beginning of pre-season camp with a completely different mindset," Hamill says. "With a large recruiting class, it was important for our new players to quickly gel into our system."
"Our team camaraderie was better (this year) than in the past several years," Hamill says. "We asked this club to make a complete change in our formations so we could take full advantage of our strengths. After winning only four matches in 2011, the coaching staff and our returning players were highly motivated to make this 2012 year a great season."
Hamill's teams have won four conference regular season championships (1994, 1999, 2001, 2010) and two Food Lion South Atlantic Conference tournament titles (1994, 2002). Wingate participated in the NCAA Division II play-offs in 1999, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012. Hamill has been named South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year five times (1993, 1994, 1999, 2001 and 2010).
- Wingate media relations