Women’s Soccer Completes Staff with Hiring of Two Assistant Coaches

July 14, 2010

CLEMSON, SC – The Clemson women’s soccer program announced the hiring of two assistant coaches on Wednesday afternoon. Kate Dylag, who came to Clemson from Duquesne, and Michael Crane, most recently an assistant coach at Duke, complete the staff for third-year Head Coach Hershey Strosberg.

“I am extremely excited about completing our staff as we prepare for the 2010 season,” said Strosberg. “Kate joined us two months ago during the transition. She was able to pick up the pieces and is growing in her own specific areas as well. Her blend of education and experience, and simply who she is, is going to be an infectious element to our team and program.

“Michael is young, driven and beyond his years in terms of experience in coaching goalkeepers. He comes in with a skill set that will allow us to evolve significantly right away. The impact that he has will be immediate and I’m looking forward to seeing him grow as a coach.

“Both Kate and Michael will be involved collaboratively in all areas of our program,” Strosberg added. “Michael’s extensive goalkeeping experience, as well as experience coaching field players, along with Kate’s background as a defender and forward give us good versatility within our staff. We are excited to get working together.”

Dylag joins the Tigers after a one year stint at Duquesne University. Prior to coaching at Duquesne, Dylag was at North Carolina State, where she spent two seasons on the Wolfpack coaching staff.

Dylag began her coaching career at Central Michigan University. She spent four seasons at Central Michigan and was named an assistant coach in 2004 after spending her first season with the Chippewa as a graduate assistant.

Dylag was a standout player at UNC Greensboro from 1998-2001. She was a four-year starter for the Spartans and was named to the All-Southern Conference Second Team in 2001 and to Soccer America’s Team of the Week in 2000. One of the top teams in the SoCon, UNCG advanced to the NCAA Tournament three of Dylag’s four years at the school (1998, 2000 and 2001).

The Strongsville, Ohio, native also played for the Piedmont Spark and Cleveland Eclipse of the W-League and was on the roster of the International Soccer Club.

Dylag holds a USSF B license as well as an NSCAA Premier diploma. She has spent time as a mentor going back to her playing days in college. Dylag has been a camp instructor at North Carolina and UNC Greensboro. She has also been a foot skills coach for the Strongsville Soccer Organization as well as an assistant coach at Strongsville High School, where she helped guide the team to the state championship in 2002.

Dylag graduated from UNC Greensboro in 2002 with a bachelor of arts degree in communication studies. She is currently working toward a master’s degree in administration at Central Michigan University.

“I am excited to join the Clemson University family. The team, administration and facilities are first class,” said Dylag. “I want to thank Hershey and the administration for this opportunity. I look forward to working with Hershey and the players to achieve our academic and athletic goals.”

Crane comes to Clemson from Duke, where he spent the 2009 season as an assistant coach working primarily with the team’s goalkeepers. While at Duke, Crane coached goalkeeper Tara Campbell, who was named to the All-ACC Second Team and the All-ACC Freshman Team.

Crane was the director of SoccerPlus Goalkeeper School from 2009-10, and has been working with the school since 2006. He was a member of the staff for the North Carolina ODP team in 2009 and was the head coach of the U-11 boys’ and U-16 girls’ teams for Triangle United from 2009-10. He also coached the goalkeepers for Capital Area Soccer League (CASL) from 2009-10. In 2008-09, Crane was the head coach of the Zionsville Youth Soccer Association’s U-15 and U-16 girls’ teams and was also the Director of Goalkeeping for the entire club during that time.

Crane graduated from the University of Indianapolis in May 2009 with a degree in exercise science and a concentration in physical therapy. He was a two-year letterwinner in goal for the Greyhounds, where he played 25 games, recording a 1.02 career goals against average with seven shutouts. Crane transferred to Indianapolis from Akron following his sophomore season with the Zips.

“I am very excited to join the Clemson women’s soccer program and the entire Clemson Athletic family,” said Crane. “The future of Clemson women’s soccer is full of potential and expectations that will be met with determination and professionalism. I am excited about the opportunity to work with Hershey and Kate and help Clemson women’s soccer reach and surpass all obstacles and goals.”