Jan. 23, 2004
Columbia, Mo. - Ushering in a new season of Mizzou soccer, the Tiger program adds two experienced coaches to the 2004 support staff. Amy Edwards and Derek Pittman join Missouri adding a rejuvenated flare to the rising program.
The coaching transition further bolsters the Tigers' goals toward a Big 12 Championship and making their next step toward national dominance. Boosting the Tigers on the sidelines, Edwards and Pittman bring a wealth of experience to the Missouri program, including top collegiate coaching experience, professional play and United States Soccer Federation recognition.
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Amy Edwards joins the Tiger squad from Indiana, where she served as an assistant coach at Notre Dame for four seasons. While coaching the Fighting Irish, she was responsible for a myriad of duties including recruiting, budget administration, game scheduling and overseeing student-athlete academic programs in addition to her on-field coaching duties.
Under her tutelage, Notre Dame compiled a 74-16-2 record, made two college cup appearances and claimed three consecutive Big East Conference titles from 1999-2001. During those seasons, Edwards helped coach five All-American athletes, five NCAA all-tournament players, 14 regional All-Americans and 22 Big East Conference Players. In addition, Edwards coached 2000 Missouri Athletic Club Player of the Year Anne Makinen during her stint with the Irish. Makinen was also selected as the 2000 Hermann Trophy winner honoring the nation's finest collegiate soccer player.
Jumpstarting her collegiate coaching career, Edwards led the University of Tulsa women's program from 1995-99. Under her tutelage, the Golden Hurricanes recorded a 47-25-6 record and had six athletes named to the Regional All-America team. In three years of Western Athletic Conference competition, Edwards coached 14 all-conference players, 12 all-conference academic recipients and five all-tournament athletes.
Preparing for her head coaching position, Edwards served as the Golden Hurricane's assistant during the 1992-1994 seasons. During that time, Tulsa recorded a 33-15-6 record. In addition, Edwards served a brief stint as an assistant coach at Fresno State in 2003.
Adding to her coaching accomplishments, Edwards owns a wealth of Olympic Development experience as well. She served as a staff coach with the Region III Olympic Development program with the United States Youth Soccer Association from 1995-98. She also worked as an ODP staff coach with the Oklahoma Soccer Association from 1991-98.
Building up her skills on the club level, Edwards served as the Coaching Director at the Black Watch Soccer Club in Tulsa from 1996-99. Building to her directorial debut, Edwards was also a team coach with Black Watch beginning in 1991. During her tenure, Edwards led six Black Watch teams to claim Oklahoma State championship titles.
Reaffirming her coaching abilities, Edwards owns an Advanced National License from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and a USSF B License from the United States Soccer Federation.
Earning honors on the playing field, Edwards was a four-year starter at the University of Tulsa from 1988-92 serving as team captain all four years. Highlighting her collegiate career, she earned regional All-America honors as a senior in 1991. Extending her playing career, Edwards helped the USSF South team to earn a bronze medal at the United States Olympic Festival in 1994.
Edwards earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Tulsa in 1992. The Broken Arrow, Okla., native then went on to earn a master's degree in education from Tulsa in 1997.
"We are so fortunate to have someone of Amy's caliber working with our program," Mizzou Head Coach Bryan Blitz said. "Working as the head coach at Tulsa and then as an assistant with a prestigious program like Notre Dame, Amy brings a high level of experience and knowledge to our program. She has consistently coached teams competitive on the national level which is in line with our goals here at Mizzou. Our program is excited to have Amy help us reach that level."
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Derek Pittman comes to Missouri from the University of Georgia where he served as an assistant coach during the spring and fall 2003 seasons.
Pittman served as the Bulldogs primary goalkeeping and defensive coach. He highlighted the 2003 season coaching the Georgia goalkeeping staff to its best collegiate season in history including 13 wins, five shutouts and an impressive 1.35 season goals against average. Under his tutelage, the Bulldogs advanced to the NCAA second round and finished the 2003 fall season with a 13-10-0 record.
In addition, he oversaw Georgia's recruiting program, practice schedule, and player development program. Pittman also directed team travel, and served as the Bulldog's equipment manager and booster club liaison.
Prior to his appointment at Georgia, Pittman served as an assistant with the University of Tulsa men's program from 2001-2003. Also focusing on the team's primary goalkeeping and defensive regimens, Pittman led the Hurricane goalkeepers to their best collegiate season accumulating 86 saves, four shutouts and a 1.480 season goals against average in 2002. During that season, the Golden Hurricanes earned their highest all-time national ranking as the 12th finest team in the country.
In addition to his collegiate resume, Pittman has coached on the club level for six years and holds a USSF C coaching license. Pittman has led the Gwinnett Soccer Club, in Atlanta, Ga., goalkeeper training for the past year. He also led goalkeeper training at the Tulsa Soccer Club from 2001-2003 and worked with the Little Rock Futbol Club from 1999-2001.
A seasoned athlete in his own right, Pittman served as the starting goalkeeper for the Tulsa Hurricanes from 1993-1996. The four-time varsity letterwinner was honored as a Missouri Valley Conference second team selection in 1995 and led the team to a top-25 ranking as a senior in 1996. He rounded out his collegiate career owning a 34-30-5 overall record and a 1.46 goals against average.
Continuing his playing career on the professional level, Pittman played with the Amateur Football Club while attending England's Lancaster University as a study-abroad student. He then trained with the Division 1 Sheffield United and Burnley Football Club in 1996. Returning to the United States, Pittman spent a season playing with the Savannah RugRatz and Columbus Comets with the Eastern Indoor Soccer League.
The Tulsa, Okla., native graduated from Tulsa in 1998 with a bachelor's degree in business administration and worked toward a master's degree in sports studies from Tulsa from 2001-2003.
"Derek has a reputation for coaching goalkeepers to an elite status," Head Coach Bryan Blitz said. "Proving himself at Georgia, he helped their goalkeepers to a new level and coached their starter to a spot on the under-21 Olympic pool. Derek brings a passion and enthusiasm for excellence that can only raise our commitment and desire to achieve similar feats."