HILBERT NAMES DON HERLAN TO LEAD WOMEN'S SOCCER PROGRAM

Hilbert College and  John Czarnecki, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, are pleased to introduce Don Herlan and the new Head Coach of the women's soccer program.

Herlan is no stranger to Hilbert, having served as an assistant men's soccer coach during the 2017 fall season. 

"Don gained valuable knowledge of Hilbert and our amazing student-athletes over the course of this year," said Czarnecki.  "I expect he will be able to jump right in and pick-up where the previous coaching staff left off and lead our women's soccer program into the future.  Coach Herlan showed us a strong understanding of the game as well as the ability to handle on and off field issues that arise throughout a season."

Herlan began his coaching career at his alma mater, SUNY Geneseo, with the inaugural women's soccer program in 1981 and has continued coaching at the college level ever since.

Herlan was the head women's soccer coach at Saint Francis University (PA) from 1992-95, and Juniata College (1997-2000) and served as an assistant coach at the University of Buffalo and Buffalo State College.  Besides last season with the Hawks, he also served as an assistant men's coach at Longwood University for eight seasons.  Along the way, he taught Exercise Science and Physical Education at several of those institutions and coached multiple boy's travel and club soccer teams in New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

Czarnecki continued, "His coaching history, coupled with his desire to better the game, make him a great fit for this position."

Currently Herlan coaches with the Empire United Soccer Academy in Buffalo and is an Associate Director of the Junior Academy, helping to develop new teams for the club.  In addition, he is the Director of Strength and Conditioning at Sportsplex, an indoor arena located in North Tonawanda, NY.

The Tonawanda, N.Y. native attained the USSF National "C" License and a CSCS certification from the National Strength and Conditioning Association.  He has published six books on soccer since 2015 and his website "Smedley's Soccer Site" was named one of the five best soccer websites in the United States.

Herlan earned bachelor's degrees from SUNY Geneseo (Management Science) and UB (Exercise Science) as well as a master's degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of Akron.