Hampton Roads Piranhas News Release - www.hrpiranhas.com

Thursday, December 13, 2007

CHESAPEAKE, VA -- The Hampton Roads Piranhas announced today the selection of Wendy Kotwas-Waddell as the new head coach of the W-League Piranhas for the 2008 season. The new coach is a 10-year veteran of the league, having previously played in Rochester and Greensboro.

Kotwas-Waddell, 28, who has played for the Piranhas since 2004, is currently a special education teacher and the head coach of both the Varsity and Junior Varsity girls’ soccer teams at Deep Creek High School.

Kotwas-Waddell began her soccer career in her hometown of Rochester, New York. She was named 1996 Outstanding Female Athlete at Livonia High School and was a three time county all-star. In 1997, she started her college career at Monroe Community College recording 22 goals and was named NJCAA first team All-America. She was elected NSCAA second team All-America and All-Region III. She was also honored as Region III Outstanding Offensive Player and Region III Woman Athlete of the Year. Her team was the Region III champion and made a final four appearance.

She continued at Monroe Community College in 1998 and netted 25 goals, setting the Monroe season record for goals scored. She was named NJCCA and NSCAA first team All-America and All-Region III. She set the Monroe career scoring record with 47 goals while serving as Captain of her team. She ended the season as the NJCAA second leading scorer in the nation. She was also named the 1998-1999 Monroe Community College Female Athlete of the Year and was a National Tournament Team selectee in 1998.

While in Rochester, Kotwas-Waddell began her W-League career with the Rochester Ravens (now Rhinos) in 1998, playing four seasons with her hometown team before moving onto the Greensboro Twisters (now Carolina Dynamo) for the 2002 and 2003 seasons.

In 1999, Kotwas-Waddell received a full scholarship to Virginia Tech where she was the second leading scorer with eight goals and eight assists, ranking her second on the team in total points with 24. She was named Virginia Tech Rookie of the year and was an Atlantic 10 Player of the Week selectee. She red-shirted the following year while serving as assistant coach.

In 2001, she rejoined Virginia Tech on the pitch as team captain, and was awarded MVP honors. She scored four goals and one assist her senior year.

Kotwas-Waddell, who may serve as player-coach with the Piranhas, joined the Piranhas W-League team for the 2004 season, making her mark as the team’s defensive leader. She has scored two goals and one assist during her career over the past four campaigns.

Piranhas’ owner and general manager Marcie Laumann is happy to have Kotwas-Waddell leading the Piranhas’ W-League side. “Wendy has been a dedicated player for the Piranhas,” Laumann said. “She is a competitive coach with a talent for getting the most out of her players. We are all looking forward to watching her continue her successful career on and off the pitch.”

Kotwas-Waddell begins her fifth season as a head coach at Deep Creek. Last season her varsity team finished 8-3 and third in the Southeastern District, the best season for the school in 15 years.