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Women's Soccer: UAB coach hired to lead soccer
Staff Report
Issue date: 3/11/09 Section: Sports
The third women's soccer coach in Eastern history has been hired.
Summer Perala, an assistant at Alabama-Birmingham for the past six seasons, was announced as the head coach on Tuesday.
Perala was a goalkeeper at Western Illinois and was also the head coach at Rockford Guilford High School in 2003.
Perala coached the UAB Blazers from 2004 to 2008. She was the associate head coach the past two seasons.
"I'm very excited to become the head coach of the Eastern Illinois women's soccer program," Perala said in a press release. "Having played collegiate soccer in the state, I am very aware of the tradition and success the EIU program has had, and I look forward to guiding this program back to that level of success."
Perala helped guide the Blazers program to three Conference USA titles and two NCAA bids during her six-year stint at UAB. The Blazers won the C-USA regular season title in 2003, followed up with a Conference Tournament title in 2004 and again in 2006 to advance to the NCAA College Cup.
In 2004, they defeated Wake Forest before falling to No. 10 Tennessee in NCAA College Cup action.
Perala served as the Blazers primary recruiter and made an immediate impact during her first season helping the team post a 13-5-1 record.
She helped coach eight C-USA first team selections. As a well-respected goalkeepers specialist, Perala took the Blazers' 2003 squad with two freshmen goalkeepers and turned it into the No. 2 defensive unit in the conference.
UAB limited its opposition to a school-record 21 goals with nine shutouts.
The 2002 Western grad was also an assistant with the Westerwinds during the 2002 season. Perala still holds the Summit League record for saves.
Perala is the second consecutive Western grad to coach the Eastern women's soccer program.
Former head coach Tim Nowak was the coach from 2005 to 2008. Nowak was also a goalkeeper with the Leathernecks. Nowak left in late January to join the Arkansas women's soccer program as an assistant coach.
Perala has four incoming recruits plus last season's team only graduated three players.
"(Perala) is a great up-and-coming coach who will be a great addition to the Eastern Illinois athletic staff," said Eastern athletic director Barbara Burke in a press release. "She has a proven track record as a recruiter and coach that will help to rebuild the Panther women's soccer program."
Perala will officially start her job on March 16.
- Staff report
Summer Perala, an assistant at Alabama-Birmingham for the past six seasons, was announced as the head coach on Tuesday.
Perala was a goalkeeper at Western Illinois and was also the head coach at Rockford Guilford High School in 2003.
Perala coached the UAB Blazers from 2004 to 2008. She was the associate head coach the past two seasons.
"I'm very excited to become the head coach of the Eastern Illinois women's soccer program," Perala said in a press release. "Having played collegiate soccer in the state, I am very aware of the tradition and success the EIU program has had, and I look forward to guiding this program back to that level of success."
Perala helped guide the Blazers program to three Conference USA titles and two NCAA bids during her six-year stint at UAB. The Blazers won the C-USA regular season title in 2003, followed up with a Conference Tournament title in 2004 and again in 2006 to advance to the NCAA College Cup.
In 2004, they defeated Wake Forest before falling to No. 10 Tennessee in NCAA College Cup action.
Perala served as the Blazers primary recruiter and made an immediate impact during her first season helping the team post a 13-5-1 record.
She helped coach eight C-USA first team selections. As a well-respected goalkeepers specialist, Perala took the Blazers' 2003 squad with two freshmen goalkeepers and turned it into the No. 2 defensive unit in the conference.
UAB limited its opposition to a school-record 21 goals with nine shutouts.
The 2002 Western grad was also an assistant with the Westerwinds during the 2002 season. Perala still holds the Summit League record for saves.
Perala is the second consecutive Western grad to coach the Eastern women's soccer program.
Former head coach Tim Nowak was the coach from 2005 to 2008. Nowak was also a goalkeeper with the Leathernecks. Nowak left in late January to join the Arkansas women's soccer program as an assistant coach.
Perala has four incoming recruits plus last season's team only graduated three players.
"(Perala) is a great up-and-coming coach who will be a great addition to the Eastern Illinois athletic staff," said Eastern athletic director Barbara Burke in a press release. "She has a proven track record as a recruiter and coach that will help to rebuild the Panther women's soccer program."
Perala will officially start her job on March 16.
- Staff report
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