Adrian Rigby

The University of Houston-Victoria announced on Friday that Adrian Rigby, a former assistant coach at St. Edward’s University in Austin, will be the coach for the university’s new soccer program that starts in the fall.

“I’m excited to be here and excited about the opportunity that presents itself,” Rigby said. “I’ll be able to put my own blueprint on a brand new program.”

During the past five seasons at St. Edward’s, Rigby helped lead the Hilltoppers to the 2009 Heartland Conference Championship. The team also achieved a National Soccer Coaches Association of America top-25 ranking during the 2006 and 2008 seasons, climbing as high as No. 12 in the 2008 poll.

Rigby helped guide the Hilltoppers to earn NSCAA All-Academic Team recognition from 2006 to 2009. In addition, while living in Austin, he played an active role in the local and state soccer community, coaching club teams and the South Texas Olympic Development Program.

“I am thrilled that UHV has found such a high quality soccer coach to lead our new men’s and woman’s soccer teams,” UHV Athletics Director Ashley Walyuchow said. “Coach Rigby has a lot of knowledge about the game and great contacts that should help us recruit a strong team for the fall.”

Rigby said that he already has heard from many students interested in attending UHV and playing soccer.

“South Texas is rich in soccer players, and they want to stay close to home and play for a quality soccer program,” he said. “UHV can fill that niche.”

Prior to working at St. Edward’s, Rigby served as the graduate assistant coach and head goalkeeper trainer at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls. In 2003, MSU advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight, and in 2004, Midwestern’s goalie, Dave Stockton, was named Southwest Soccer Conference Goalkeeper of the Year. Rigby also served as a trainer and head goalkeeper coach for the Xpress Soccer Club in Wichita Falls.

Rigby, a native of North Delta, British Columbia, graduated in 2001 from Averett University in Danville, Va., with a bachelor’s degree in sports medicine and wellness. He completed his Master of Education in 2005 in curriculum and instruction, and kinesiology at Midwestern State University.

As a four-year starter at Averett, he was selected to the 1998 all-state team and the 1998 and 2001 all-conference teams. Rigby also played professionally with the Vancouver 86’ers A-League reserve squad in 1999. He holds a U.S. Soccer Federation “B” license and NSCAA goalkeeping level 1 and 2 licenses.

In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Rigby will serve as an instructor in the UHV School of Education & Human Development teaching coaching and leadership classes.

Rigby also hopes to promote soccer in the community and has contacted the Victoria Youth Soccer Organization.

“I’m looking forward to working with the youth in the community,” he said. “It’s going to be a busy fall, but I’m up to the challenge.”

UHV also recently announced the new men’s and women’s golf coaches. Brian Williamson, the golf and teaching professional at the Cuero Golf Course, is the new men’s golf coach. Whitney Stromgren, who played for the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi golf team and was the graduate assistant golf coach there, will lead the women’s golf team.

“It’s exciting to watch our athletics program grow from just a couple of years ago when we began fielding baseball and softball teams,” UHV President Tim Hudson said. “The addition of our FIRST 200 underclassmen plus soccer and golf programs takes us one step closer to realizing our goal of becoming a destination university.”