Crittenden Added as NU Goalkeeping Coach

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1"?>Lincoln ? The Nebraska Athletic Department announced today the hiring of Wally Crittenden as the new Husker soccer assistant coach. Crittenden, who joins Nebraska after a two-year stint with the Oklahoma Sooners, will work primarily with the Husker goalkeepers.<?xml:namespace prefix="o"?>

 

“Nebraska is known across the country as having established a tradition of excellence and being committed to fostering a championship culture,” Crittenden said. “To have an opportunity to work alongside such a well-respected staff and to help develop some of the best players in the country is something that I look forward to.”

 

Nebraska head coach John Walker is excited to bring someone of Crittenden’s experience to the Husker staff and expects that the addition will add new life to a historically successful program.

 

“We’re certainly excited to have someone of Wally’s terrific playing and coaching background join us at Nebraska,” Walker said. “At Oklahoma and in the college coaching circles, he’s seen as one of the bright young goalkeeping coaches in the country. I really think he’ll give us great energy and innovation in training our goalkeepers and the whole team.”

 

Crittenden got his first experience at the Division I level while working with the Oklahoma women’s program in 2005 and 2006, helping the Sooners to 14 shutouts over the last two seasons. Prior to his time at OU, Crittenden was extremely active at various levels of soccer, including high school, Olympic Development and Division II.

 

Crittenden began his career on the men’s goalkeeping staff for the Region III Olympic Development team beginning in 1999 and has since added coaching credentials as a men’s assistant at Division II Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla., head coach of the women’s team at Pasadena Memorial High School in Pasadena, Texas and as a staff member for the South Texas Olympic Development men’s team.

 

Additionally, Crittenden has taken on administrative responsibilities as the current director of the EliteKeeperAcademy and was formerly the goalkeeping director at the United Alliance Soccer Club.

 

A native of Houston, Texas, Crittenden was a four-year letterwinner at FloridaInternationalUniversity (1998-2002) as a goalkeeper, while earning his bachelor’s degree in education with an emphasis in sport management in 2003.

 

During his playing career, Crittenden also earned accolades as an ODP U-18 All-American and a member of the U.S. U-20 Men’s National Team. Crittenden has also competed professionally in trials with Major League Soccer’s Miami Fusion and DC United.

 

Crittenden is certified by the United States Soccer Federation with his “B” license and recently obtained national goalkeeping certification through the NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches Association of America).

 

Crittenden replaces long-time assistant coach Marty Everding, who resigned following the 2006 season to pursue other opportunities. Crittenden will join Walker and fellow assistant coach Ann Cook for the 2007 season in August.