Montclair, NJ (7/13/10) – The Montclair State Department of Athletics has announced the hiring of Pat Naughter as the new head women’s soccer coach. Naughter becomes the fifth head coach in the history of the program and takes over for Eileen Blair, who stepped down after 12 seasons in May.

Naughter is no stranger to Montclair State having played for the Red Hawks from 1996-1999. He also spent three seasons as an assistant coach with the men’s team.

Naughter returns to Montclair State after spending the last 12 years as a girls’ coach on the club level. He spent five years (1998-2003) with the Wyckoff Torpedoes U-18 squad that was a semifinalist in the 1999 State Cup as well as finalists in the Virginia Tournament three times. More recently Naughter has been a coach in the Parsippany Soccer Club U-18 and U-13 levels over the past nine years.

"I am honored to have the opportunity to coach at such a great institution,” said Naughter. “Montclair State University has meant a tremendous amount to me and my family, and I can't wait to start working with the student-athletes to continue the standard of excellence that this athletic department is accustomed to."

In addition Naughter spent four years as the head coach for the boys’ soccer team at Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale, NJ. He compiled a 40-12-6 record (.769 winning percentage) during his tenure and led the Highlanders to the NJSIAA North 1, Group 3 Sectional Final in 2009 in addition to capturing the North Bergen Interscholastic Athletic League (NBIAL) championship. Northern Highlands qualified for the Bergen County and NJSIAA State Tournaments each season under Naughter and he was selected to coach the 2008 Bergen County and the 2009 State All-Star Games.

Naughter also worked with the New Jersey Olympic Development Program as a staff coach and was a Players Development Academy (PDA) coach for U-17 and U-11 teams.

Naughter played four seasons for the Red Hawks helping Montclair to a 43-27-10 mark as a standout out defender. MSU made two appearances in the NCAA Division III Tournament (1996 and 1998) and was the runner up for the ECAC Metro Championship in 1997. He scored two goals during the 1998 campaign and was an integral part in a defensive unit that allowed just 13 goals during a 14-3-3 campaign.

“We are very excited about hiring Pat as out new head women’s soccer coach,” said Director of Athletics Holly Gera. “Patrick’s extensive club coaching experience, his excellent knowledge of the NJAC and his familiarity with the University will be tremendous assets in recruiting talented student-athletes. I am happy to welcome Pat back to MSU.”

Naughter, a Special Education teacher at both Northern Highlands and Bloomfield High School, earned his bachelor’s degree from MSU in 2002 in history and later obtained his master’s degree from New Jersey City University in 2006.