Arthur takes over at Willamette

Appeal Staff Report

Former Western Nevada College women's soccer coach Hillary Arthur has been hired as the coach of the Willamette University women's soccer team.

Arthur will join Willamette, a Division III program in Salem., Ore., for part of the spring and full-time in the summer.

"Hillary brings a passion and enthusiasm for soccer that is contagious. She has proven her ability to build and lead competitive teams," Willamette athletic director Mark Majeski said. "We're very excited to bring Hillary on board to continue the great tradition of women's soccer at Willamette."

Arthur stood out in the job search because of her playing and coaching experience, as well as the positive interactions she had with Willamette coaches and staff members during her on-campus interview, Willamette officials said.

"I want to thank Mark Majeski and the entire search committee for choosing me to be the program's next coach," Arthur said. "The program has a rich history of success. I look forward to getting to the campus and meeting the team."

Arthur has the benefit of taking over a team that has many returning players for next year. It's also possible that Arthur could be bringing several players from the WNC program. WNC decided to drop the program after several of its opponents discontinued their women's soccer teams, leaving WNC with a difficult time arranging a full season schedule.

After building a team from scratch at WNC, Arthur said she looks forward to taking over an historically successful squad.

"I definitely believe in building from the back and moving the ball up the field ... getting the midfield involved ... using our flank players," Arthur said.

As a college player, Arthur started all four years at Humboldt State University, where she played center midfielder. She earned first team all-conference honors three times.

During her senior year, Arthur received a West Region Player Award and qualified for academic all-conference recognition. She has continued to stress the combination of academic and athletic success as a coach. Her 2006 team at Western Nevada ranked fifth in the National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association in team grade point average.

While at WNC, Arthur led the women's soccer team during its three years of existence, never finishing below .500. In 2006, WNC won the Region 18 championship and advanced to the NJCAA Tournament, with Arthur being selected as the Region 18 Coach of the Year.

Prior to starting the women's soccer program at WNC, Arthur was an assistant women's soccer coach and physical education instructor at Chico State for the 2001-04 seasons.

Arthur earned a bachelor's in exercise science and cardiac rehabilitation/kinesiology from Humboldt State in 2001. She received a master's in sports psychology/kinesiology from Chico State in 2004.

"This is going to be a big transition year," said Arthur about the upcoming season. "The players are all committed to working hard and raising the level of play ... they want to get to the next level."