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Natalie Cocchi Joins Louisville Women's Soccer Coaching Staff
June 05, 2009 | Women's Soccer
June 5, 2009
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville women's soccer head coach Karen Ferguson-Dayes has announced the addition of former Duquesne assistant and West Virginia player Natalie Cocchi to the Cardinals' coaching staff.
Cocchi joins the Cardinals' coaching staff after serving one season as an assistant coach at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pa. Prior to moving into the coaching ranks, Cocchi had a stellar playing career for the Mountaineers from 2004-07, where she scored 15 goals, 5 assists and 35 points. She was captain of the 2007 Mountaineer team that was Big East Champions, made it to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament and finished ranked #1 in the NSCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional.
"We are thrilled to add Natalie Cocchi to our coaching staff," said Ferguson-Dayes. "She is a passionate young coach whose personality and work ethic will have an immediate impact on our program. She brings a wealth of experience having captained a West Virginia team that won a BIG EAST Championship and made its best ever run in the NCAA Tournament reaching the Elite Eight. Growing up in New Jersey and now living in Pittsburgh, she has developed connections that will help us continue to recruit top student-athletes from the east coast and will surely help in our goal of competing for BIG EAST Championships."
One of the most decorated players in WVU's history, Cocchi was named BIG EAST Player of the Week a total of six times as well as voted Most Valuable Defensive player by teammates and coaches her senior season. She was also voted hardest working player during 2007 season three times. She is a 2008 graduate of WVU.
"Natalie is a winner," said her former coach and current West Virginia head coach Nikki Izzo-Brown. "She is a tireless worker and is motivated to be the very best in everything she does. Her passion and energy as a coach make her a great addition to the Louisville women's soccer staff."
Over her four seasons as a player, WVU was named Soccer Buzz Elite team of the week five times and Soccer America team of the week five times while sporting impressive 59-21-8 record. The Mountaineers qualified for the NCAA Tournament each of her four years as a player. Cocchi was also invited to the United States Under-20 Women's National Team Camp.
Cocchi has coached at several levels over the past nine years, including head coaching stints with USP Soccer Academy U12 girls Select Team and WVUSC U11 Girls Jaguars soccer team.
