Tricia Taliaferro
Head Women's Soccer Coach
Head coach Tricia Taliaferro enters her seventh season at the helm of the University of Miami soccer program in 2008. Just the second head women's soccer coach in UM history, Taliaferro has amassed a 84-81-12 overall record in nine seasons as a head coach with Miami and Illinois.During her tenure at UM, Taliaferro has coached six all-conference selections, three freshman all-conference picks and several soccer organization and publication award winners, in addition to receiving the 2004 ACC Team Sportsmanship Award. In 2007, Taliaferro saw freshman Brittney Steinbruch named ACC Freshman of the Year as well as being named ACC Coach of the Year herself.
Recognized as one of the region's and the country's top developers of talent, Taliaferro recently served as an assistant with the U.S. Soccer U-21 National Team and as an assistant coach to the U-16 Women's National Team at the 2004 U.S. Soccer Girls Olympic Development Program Thanksgiving InterRegional.She has also been asked to serve at various training camps with the U-15, U-16 and the U-17 Women's National teams.Taliaferro is currently a Region III staff member, with prior experience in Region II, and currently holds her USSF `A' License and Youth National License.
Making Her Mark
In her 2002 UM coaching debut, Taliaferro led the Hurricanes to an impressive three-match win streak before going on to finish 9-9-1. Among those nine victories included a 3-1 win over No. 21 Boston College during a school-record five-game unbeaten streak. That season, the Hurricanes recorded a 4-1-1 mark in BIG EAST play to finish second in the Northeast Division, marking the highest finish in conference play by a UM team.
Taliaferro's 2002 team also set numerous UM school records, including the most goals scored (48) behind Britney Butchers' school record-setting 16 goals and 34 points. UM also set school marks in shots taken (391) and fewest shots on goal allowed (108) in addition to recording the largest margin of victory at Cobb Stadium with a 7-0 win over Stetson.
The following season, Taliaferro and the Hurricanes opened 2003 with the first overtime victory in the program's six-year history, knocking off Indiana 1-0 at the Florida Atlantic Tournament in Boca Raton, Fla. UM went on to post a 9-9-1 mark for the second-consecutive season, highlighted by a 3-1 win over No. 10 Connecticut at Cobb Stadium in UM's BIG EAST farewell tour.
That season, UM tied the school record for fewest goals allowed (31), while Hurricane keeper Alex Alford tied a school record by allowing just 1.60 goals per game.
In 2004, Taliaferro led Miami into its inaugural season in the tradition-rich Atlantic Coast Conference. In what was regarded as the nation's toughest schedule, Taliaferro and the Hurricanes fought through an injury-plagued season and were forced to cancel three games and numerous practices due to a string of three severe hurricanes, finishing with an overall record of 3-13-0. Despite the disappointing record, UM lost six matches by just one goal, while playing with 17 underclassmen, including seven true freshmen.
From 2005-06, Taliaferro had diligently guided a pair of young UM squads into challenging ACC competition. In 2005, the Hurricanes opened the season winning four of their first five contests - including a early-season 3-0 upset over 14th-ranked Princeton. In 2006, the Hurricanes tied a program best, winning six of their first seven matches, and went on to upend No. 8 Virginia, 1-0, in ACC play. In addition, Lauren McAdam emerged as one of the top keepers in the ACC, recording a UM-best 1.29 goals against average, while anchoring a Hurricane defense that posted a program-best .789 save percentage and allowed a program-low 24 goals on the season. Last season Taliaferro's dedication finally paid off as she guided her team to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history, and first since joining the ACC. Miami finished the season 9-7-5 overall and .500 in the conference at 4-4-2, as Taliaferro was named the ACC Coach of the Year. The Hurricanes were dominate on their home field, going undefeated in conference play. Freshman sensation Steinbruch tied a UM record with 16 goals on the season, leading her team to wins over defending National Champion No.7 North Carolina and No. 4 Boston College. For her efforts Steinbruch was named the ACC's Freshman of the Year.
Prior to UM
Taliaferro came to Miami following a three-year run as the head coach at Illinois from 1999-2001, during which time she compiled a 38-24-3 record. At Illinois, she led the Illini to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2000 and 2001, as well as recording the team's highest national ranking in school history at No. 15 in 1999. Taliaferro also coached six Big Ten All-Conference athletes and had six players named to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team.
She began her coaching career in 1996 at the Soccer Academy, Inc. in Manassas, Va., where she served as a senior instructor under former National Team assistant coach John Ellis. During her time at the academy, Taliaferro traveled throughout the United States teaching technical and tactical methods to players at clinics in preparation for the Olympic Development Programs (ODP). Additional responsibilities at the academy included coaching at residential and day camps for youth and adult teaching sessions. She also assisted youth head coaches, holding sessions on how to run efficient practices.
Taliaferro left the Soccer Academy in 1997 to join the Illinois staff as an assistant coach under Jillian Ellis before being promoted to head coaching duties in 1999.
Establishing Her Coaching Roots as a Player
Taliaferro's coaching ability can be attributed to her success as a standout player, especially on the collegiate level where she was a four-year starter from 1992-95 at Maryland. While at Maryland, she played for former U.S. National Team coach April Heinrichs.
During her senior year, she led the Terps to the program's most successful season in school history and the team's first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament in 1995. That season, the Terps finished second in the ACC Tournament, falling to top-ranked and eventual NCAA champion North Carolina, 3-0. Maryland, ranked ninth at the time, received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Regional finals before losing to second-ranked and national runner-up Portland.
Maryland finished the 1995 season with an 18-6 overall record and was ranked sixth in the final ISAA poll.
Additional team accomplishments included the Terps opening the 1995 season with a school-record eight consecutive victories and recording a program-best four ACC victories. The team's back-to-back victories over No. 15 Clemson and No. 9 North Carolina State in the ACC Tournament marked the first time in the 10-year history of the program that Maryland defeated ranked teams in consecutive games. Against North Carolina State in the ACC Tournament semifinals, Taliaferro scored the game's only goal to push the Terps into the finals.
One of the top attacking defenders in the ACC, Taliaferro was named Maryland's Most Valuable Player in 1994 after leading the Terps in scoring and compiling a career-best 14 points.
Taliaferro was also member of the Soccer Academy United squad - which won the 1996 women's open national championship - and played professionally for the Baltimore Bays in the United States Women's Independent Soccer League from 1993-94.
A native of Dallas, Texas, Taliaferro earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Maryland in 1995.
Jeff Freeman enters his fifth season with the University of Miami women's soccer team and first as a the associate head coach. His duties include working with team practices and game preparation, goalkeeper training, assisting in recruiting and administrative duties. He is a United States Soccer Federation `A' Licensed Coach and holds a NSCAA Advanced National Diploma. 