DURHAM, N.C. – Duke University Women’s Soccer Head Coach
Robbie Church announced on Wednesday the addition of Michael Crane as
an assistant coach in charge of the goalkeepers.
“First of all, we’re
indebted to Nate Kipp with the work he did with our goalkeepers for the
last three years, but we’re very, very excited to have Michael Crane come
in and join our program,” said Church. “He brings a wealth of experience
at a very young age.”
Crane, who is a 2009 graduate of the University of Indianapolis, Ind.,
received a degree in exercise science/pre-physical therapy this spring.
He has been the Zionsville Youth Soccer Association head coach since 2008,
while serving as the assistant director of the SoccerPlus Goalkeeper
School since 2006, along with being a goalkeeper for the Akron and
Indianapolis men’s soccer programs the last four years.
“It’s an honor and a privilege to join a program and a coaching staff
with so much success and national recognition,” said Crane. “Duke
University and the women’s soccer program has produced some of nations top
athletes and I am excited to contribute to its success. I look forward to
working with Robbie, Billy, and Carla and helping Duke women’s soccer to
continue to be successful on the national level.”
A two-year letterwinner in goal for the Greyhounds, where he played in
25 games, totaled a 1.02 goals against average and seven shutouts. Crane
was also a member of the Akron men’s soccer squad but redshirted in 2005
and did not see any game action in 2006.
“He’s a very impressive young man who when we interviewed him, had a
great passion for the game,” commented Church. “He had a passion that he
wanted to bring to Duke University. He wanted to build on what we’ve done
at Duke over the years.”
A native of Lexington, Ky., Crane is a 2005 graduate of Bellbrook H.S.,
in Ohio. He earned two varsity letters in both soccer and basketball at
Bellbrook, while receiving the All-Miami Valley Sportsmanship Award for
varsity soccer as a junior. He registered 11 shutouts in goal as a senior
on the way to earning first team all-conference and first team
all-district accolades.
“We pride ourselves on our goalkeepers at Duke,” said Church. “We feel
that every single year we’ve had a top-notch goalkeeper, and they’ve been
a very, very important part of our success over the 20 years of the Duke
Women’s Soccer program. We think Michael can come in and keep our
goalkeepers at a high level. He’s going to bring in a new set of eyes to
look over our program, which we’re excited to have. He has high praise
from all the people he’s worked with in the past. He’s been connected with
Soccer Plus camps, and everybody that we’ve spoke to at the camps has said
that this is going to be a big time coach. We’re just excited to have him
come and join our program and work with our goalkeepers.”
Crane replaces
Nathan Kipp who spent three seasons at Duke before accepting a
position with the Chicago Red Stars of Women’s Professional Soccer.
