University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Steve & Michele Cornish Accept Positions at Shattuck-St. Mary
04.23.2010 | Women's Soccer
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - UNC Asheville Director of Athletics Janet R. Cone has announced the resignations of UNC Asheville men's and women's head soccer coaches Steve and Michele Cornish effective on May 31 to assume coaching and teaching positions with Shattuck-St. Mary's School in Faribault, Minn.
"We are very sad to make this announcement about Steve and Michele leaving UNC Asheville," stated Cone. "Steve and Michele have done a tremendous job with our programs during their tenures, not just on the field but off the field, as well. They have been model coaches who have made a difference to so many student-athletes throughout the years. They will be missed."
Both Steve and Michele are the all-time winningest coaches in each sport during their time at UNC Asheville. Steve came to Asheville in the 1992 after working at Shattuck-St. Mary's and Macalester College. He was named Big South Conference Coach of the Year twice and led the Bulldogs to the 2001 Big South Conference regular-season championship after being selected to finish in last place in preseason polls.
Michele became head coach of the women's program in 1994. At the age of 26, she was one of the youngest coaches in the nation upon her hiring. However, Michele quickly made an impact with the young Asheville program that was in its third year of existence. In 1995, she led the Bulldogs to the Big South Conference championships and school-record 16-5 mark. Asheville finished the season in second place in the league standings and advanced to the league title game for the first time. In the title game, the Bulldogs stunned top-seed and nationally-ranked UNC Greensboro, 1-0 on the Spartans' home field. Cornish led the Bulldogs to back-to-back Big South Conference regular-season titles in 2004 and 2005. In 2006, she guided Asheville to the Big South Conference title and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. The women's soccer team became the first female team at Asheville to ever go to the NCAA Tournament. She finishes her Bulldog career with 134 victories, making her not just the all-time winningest coach at UNC Asheville but the Big South, as well. Cornish led Asheville to the Big South Conference title game seven different times.
"As you would imagine, this has been an extremely difficult decision," said Steve Cornish. "We love UNC Asheville and have a lot of wonderful memories here.
"Shattuck is a special place for us, as well," added Steve. "I worked there before coming to UNC Asheville, and this is a wonderful opportunity for our entire family. However, it is not easy to leave Asheville."
"I have had so many wonderful experiences and close friendships during my nearly 17 years here," commented Michele. "UNC Asheville is really an extension of our family. The decision to leave was not one that Steve and I reached easily. However, the opportunities presented to us by Shattuck-St. Mary's are outstanding in every way."
The Cornish's will stay in Asheville through June and host their soccer camps at UNC Asheville.
Cone will lead a search to replace both coaches.
"We will conduct a nationwide search to replace Steve and Michele," declared Cone. "Our soccer programs are in great shape thanks to the hard work of Steve and Michele. We believe we will attract some excellent candidates for each position."
