Don Maples of Knoxville, TN, has just taken over the head coaching position for the women's soccer squad at Montreat College.

Maples has served as a professional staff coach with the Knoxville Football Club for the last five years and has over 27 years playing/coaching experience. He was the Director of the Goalkeeping Academy at KFC while also coaching primarily on the women’s side of the club. His teams have won three state championships, and have finished as a Region 3 Finalist and Semi-Finalist. He is a USSF “B” License Coach and holds the NSCAA National Goalkeeping License.

Maples inherits a team that finished 11-4-2 overall and 4-3-1 in the Appalachian Athletic Conference last season.  “We lost some very good talent up front with Solesbee, Scott and Olson. The core group returning this season is solid and will have to step up and take a real leadership role and lead our talented freshman class. We are still young, but look to get better every game, building to the conference tournament."

Montreat's schedule will be tougher this season with the additions of Southern Wesleyan and NCAA Div. 3 Emory University, a round of 16 team the last three seasons. The Lady Cavaliers look to improve on their fourth place finish from the 2007 season.

Montreat College is a Christ-centered liberal arts institution with its main campus for four-year traditional students in Montreat. The accelerated School of Professional and Adult Studies program has campuses in Asheville, Charlotte, and Black Mountain, with courses being taught in Cherokee, Murphy and other NC locations.