Western Carolina Soccer Academy: Meet the Staff

In just four seasons at WCU, Head Coach Tammy DeCesare has led the Catamounts to two SoCon Championships and NCAA National tournament appearances - first in 2005 marking an impressive 18-6 record and posting the best turnaround in the entire NCAA; and recently in 2008 guiding the Catamounts to an outstanding finish on the season seeing the Cats only drop two of their final 15 games. With a Master’s in Education, her philosophy for coaching is teaching oriented. The WCSA camps are designed with the development of the player in mind. DeCesare’s expertise for the game comes from varied playing and coaching experiences - combining over 11 years of coaching experience, directing summer camps since 1999, and being an active staff member on both NC ODP and Region 3 ODP. She holds an NSCAA Premier Coaching license and a Level 1 Goalkeeping Diploma. Following the record setting 2005 season, DeCesare was named Soccer Buzz Regional Coach of the Year (runner up). As a player, DeCesare was a four-year starter and All-Conference defender for Catawba College. During her career, she helped Catawba capture two conference tournament titles and rise to Division II national rankings. DeCesare also spent two years playing in the W-League (semi-professional soccer) first for the Hampton Roads Piranhas and then for the Carolina Speed..

Assistant Camp Director & Boys Camp Director - Yon Struble

Yon Struble enters his first season with the Western Carolina University women's soccer team. His duties will include a broad range within the Catamount Soccer program, with his primary duties will include recruiting coordinator, youth camp director, technical director for the team and training goalkeepers. He is a United States Soccer Federation `A' Licensed Coach and holds a NSCAA Advanced National Diploma.  

In 2008, he was awarded US Youth Soccer National Girls Competitive Coach of the Year at the US Youth Soccer Coaching Symposium in Pittsburgh, PA.  In 2007, Struble was awarded Georgia Coach of the Year and Region III Coach of the Year, leading to his National Coach of the Year Award.   

Struble comes to Western following a two year stint as the Girls Technical Director at Norcross Soccer Academy in Atlanta, GA where he worked with teams ranging in age from 9-19. Prior to his position as Technical Director, Struble served as the women’s assistant at Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA from 2002-2005.  While at GSU, Struble worked with all aspects of the program including team practices, recruiting, and fund raising.  There, Struble’s goalkeepers were named to all conference in 2004.  While at Georgia State, Struble obtained his M.A. in Reading Education. 

For seven years, Struble has been a staff member for Georgia ODP.  He has been the head coach for the 87, 89.93, 94, and 95 age groups.  In 2005, he took the 89’ Girls to the ODP National Championships where the team finished 3^rd. For the past four years, Yon has also been a member of the Region 3 ODP coaching staff.    

Before his arrival in Georgia, Struble was the women’s assistant at Union College in Schenectady, NY for five years, from 1998 to 2002.  While at Union, Struble helped the Dutchwomen achieve three NCAA tournament bids, three UCAA conference championships, two NYSWCAA State Championships as well as a top 20 National Ranking for all five of his years as an assistant coach. While in NY, Struble was a staff member for Eastern NY ODP for five years working with various age groups, and was a Region 1 staff member for one year before leaving for Georgia in 2002.   

Goalkeeper Academy Coordinator - Lauren Hardison

Heading the Goalkeeper Academy is WCU Assistant Coach and Goalkeeper Trainer, Lauren Hardison. A 2008 graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University (Richmond, VA), Hardison was a goalkeeper for the Rams from 2004-2008. She played a total of 5,112 minutes in goal - placing her in the top two of most minutes played in the history of VCU and a goal-against-average of 1.01.

Hardison was named team captain for both the 2007 and 2008 seasons. She was named Colonial Athletic Association "Rookie of the Week" in 2004 and CAA "Player of the Week" four times between 2004 and 2008. 

During her career at VCU, Hardison led the Rams to a Division 1 top 30 ranking on four occasions. She made two NCAA appearances and won two CAA Championships.  She holds a BS degree from VCU in Exercise Science.

Aside from her VCU soccer career, Hardison is one of the young sought after GK trainers, being on staff with SoccerPlus Goalkeeper Academies under the well-known Tony DiCicco. She also spent two seasons playing in the W-League with the Richmond Kickers.

Youth Camp Coordinator - Anna Betton

The Boy’s and Girl’s Youth Camp are given extra attention to the developmental needs of the young athlete. The coordinator that will oversee these modifications is WCU Graduate Assistant Coach, Anna Betton.

Betton, is in her first season with WCU Women’s Soccer and oversees the internal operations of the program. A 2008 graduate of Furman University, Betton was a vital member of the Paladin's soccer team.  In 2007, she led them to win a Southern Conference Championship where she was named the league's Player of the Year, leading the conference in every major statistical category (13 goals, 10 assists and 30 points in 20 matches).

Betton ranks sixth on Furman's career goals with 32 and seventh in career points with 83. She collected two All-Conference and All-Tournament honors in her illustrious career with the Paladins.

Along with playing experience, Betton also brings some coaching experience with her.  In 2008, she was the assistant coach at Lees-Mcrae College in Banner Elk, N.C.

Western Carolina Soccer Academy coaches give players outstanding instruction and insight into what it takes to succeed in the most competitive environments. Here is a list of past and present WCSA Camp Staff Coaches:

Amanda Martin – University of Cincinnati Assistant
Andy Stoots – East Tennessee State Assistant
Fields Brown – Wofford College Assistant
Rohan Naraine – Coastal Carolina University Head Coach
Jason Hamil – College of Charleston GK Assistant
Alesha Row – Jacksonville State University GK Assistant
Sandy Burris – South Carolina State Assistant
Todd Herman – UNC Charlotte Assistant Coach
Jackie Stolls – Charleston Southern University GK Assistant
Kevin Meade – Franklin HS Boy’s Coach
Ryan DiNunzio – Director of Matthews FC, former Charlotte Eagles member
Lydia Vandenbergh – WPS Chicago Red Stars player
Scott Ginn - Mars Hill College Head Coach
Rich Stoneman - East Carolina University Assistant Coach
Carolyn Warhaftig - Smoky Mountain High School Head Coach
Carrie Miller – Newberry College Head Coach
Rebekah Mumm - Brevard College Assistant Coach