Men's Soccer News Releases
Watkins, Regal named to soccer coaching staff
MOUNT VERNON - Cornell College's first-year head soccer coach Derek Bell has named Tyler Watkins and Alison Regal as assistants on his men's and women's coaching staff for the 2009-10 season.
"I am excited about the energy, enthusiasm and commitment Alison and Tyler bring to Cornell," said Bell, who took over the Rams' soccer programs in April. "They display a wide range of abilities that will foster the best learning environment we can create for our student-athletes. They will be integral to our programs' success."
Watkins, a native of Broken Arrow, Okla., is a 2008 graduate of Upper Iowa University. He was the starting goalkeeper for the NCAA Division II Peacocks his freshman and sophomore seasons and holds the program's single-season record for goals against average. Due to an injury, Watkins served as a student assistant coach his final two years at Upper Iowa. He earned a bachelor's degree in sport management.
Watkins is an assistant women's coach at Cedar Rapids Xavier High School, where he helped guide the Saints to the 2009 Class 1A state soccer title - the team's fourth consecutive state championship - in his first season with the program last spring. He also is the current goalkeeper coach at Cedar River Soccer Association and Eastern Iowa United, positions he's held since spring 2009.
Watkins holds a USSF "D" license and NSCAA National Goalkeeping Diploma. He and his wife, Maggie, reside in Cedar Rapids.
Regal, of Appleton, Wis., is a 2008 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. She was a three-year soccer letterwinner as an outside midfielder from 2005-07 and ranked third on the team in assists her final season. Regal helped lead the Pointers to a berth in the NCAA Division III Sweet 16 in 2007, a team on which Coach Bell was an assistant coach. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in health promotion and wellness and a minor in psychology.
For the past three years, Regal has served as player development coordinator for Portage County Youth Soccer in Stevens Point. She has helped coach multiple teams within the Stevens Point Soccer Club.
Regal was the fitness programmer at St. Michael's Hospital from January 2009-August 2009 in Stevens Point, where she taught classes, held community events and conducted strength and conditioning camps. During that period, she was strength and conditioning coach at Rosholt (Wis.) High School. Regal was an intern in fall 2008 at Athletic Republic Madison, a sports performance training center for athletes.
Cornell's men's team opens the season Sept. 2 at 5 p.m. against Mount Mercy in Mount Vernon. The Cornell women host Mount Mercy Sept. 3 at 5 p.m. in their season opener.
