Carson-Newman’s McNamara, Catawba’s Turnbull Named Region Coaches of Year

MISSION, Kans. - Carson-Newman head women's soccer coach Philip McNamara and Catawba College men's soccer coach, Craig Turnbull, have been selected regional Coaches of the Year. McNamara was named Southeast Region Coach of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and adidas, while Turnbull, has been named the Appalachian Region Coach of the Year.

In only his third year as the Lady Eagles head coach, McNamara led C-N to the best season in school history in 2004. The Lady Eagles were 19-3-2 and won their second consecutive South Atlantic Conference (SAC) championship. C-N won also won the Food Lion SAC Tournament.

The Lady Eagles advanced to the NCAA tournament for the second straight season and made a run all the way to the Division II Final Four. The Lady Eagles defeated Clayton State, Catawba and Lincoln Memorial to advance to the Final Four in Texas where they lost a close match to Adelphi in the national semi-final.

McNamara has a 45-13-4 overall record at Carson-Newman and a 62-25-4 career record as a head coach.

Under Turnbull, the Indians posted a 14-6 record this season and earned their first-ever berth in the NCAA II tournament. The Tribe finished the year ranked 20th by the NSCAA.

The honor is the first for Turnbull from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America in his seven seasons at Catawba. He has guided the Indians to one conference title (1998) and two tournament crowns (2001 and 2003). His overall record stands at 77-59-2.

Turnbull also serves as Director of Challenge and recreation for FC Carolina Alliance and is actively involved with the North Carolina Youth Soccer Association Olympic Development program. In 1998 he won a state championship with the Capital Area Green Caps Premier U-18 Team.