Rogers State University soccer coach Derek Larkin has named the two coaches who will help him guide the RSU men’s and women’s soccer programs in their first season of competition this fall.
First-year Claremore High School boy’s soccer coach Shawn Slater and former CHS All-State standout Amanda Hedgpath will assist Larkin with the inaugural campaign of Hillcat soccer in 2007.
“I’m excited to add both Shawn and Amanda to our coaching staff,” Larkin said. “They will be instrumental in the development of our programs both on and off the field as we strive to attract quality student-athletes to RSU and build a winning tradition of Hillcat soccer.”
Slater brings a vast amount of experience as a player and coach to the RSU program. An All-State selection at Tulsa Nathan Hale High School, Slater later starred at John Brown University as well as with several professional teams including the Tulsa Roughnecks and the Dallas Sidekicks.
Slater worked as an assistant coach at Booker T. Washington High School and Tulsa Memorial High School before landing his first head coaching position at Nathan Hale in 1995. He later guided the Bixby and Chickasha boy’s soccer programs and helped Catoosa High School claim the Class 4A State Championship in 2003-04. Slater currently serves as the boy’s director of coaching for the Tulsa Nationals Soccer Club.
Hedgpath returns to her roots after completing her soccer career at Northeastern State University. She was an All-District and All-State selection for the Lady Zebras in 2002-03 and earned a soccer scholarship from Bacone College. Hedgpath was a two-year starter for the Warriors before transferring to NSU to complete her collegiate playing career. She earned a spot on the Lone Star Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll and is scheduled to graduate from NSU in May 2007 with a bachelor’s of science in elementary education.
Rogers State University is an NAIA member institution and will compete as a member of the Sooner Athletic Conference in 2007-08. The first regular season soccer game is scheduled for Sept. 5, 2007, at Soldier Field, located in the heart of RSU’s Claremore campus.