By JOSH MILTON

Contributing Writer

Tech women's soccer head coach Jennifer Soileau knows the first season of a new program will be a challenge and a learning experience -- that is why she is ecstatic about tackling the opportunity.

Soileau has succeeded on every level of competition as a player and coach in the world of women's soccer, and building a successful program at Tech is her next step.

"This is what I've always wanted to do," Soileau said. "I think this is a great opportunity for me to start at this level, being a first year coach. My team and I can grow together. I'm excited about starting fresh with this team."

While Soileau may be starting fresh as a head coach in Division I soccer, the NCAA is a familiar scene for the Baton Rouge native.

After a stellar prep career at Parkview Baptist High School, Soileau starred as a midfielder at the University of Mississippi. She graduated from Ole Miss in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in exercise science and minor in psychology.

Prior to receiving her master's degree in education at Southeastern Louisiana University in May of 2004, Soileau has continued her soccer playing career with a year in the Women's United Soccer Association with the Philadelphia Charge.

After a year in the WUSA, Soileau began her coaching career by completing an internship at Ole Miss. She then landed a graduate assistant coaching position at Southeastern in the fall of 2002. Soileau departed Southeastern for her former high school and coached Parkview's junior varsity team while assisting with the varsity squad.

After one year at Parkview, Soileau coached a year at Bishop Sullivan High School before Tech hired her as the university's first head soccer coach.

Now at the helm of Louisiana Tech's soccer team, Soileau is determined to overcome the obstacles of a young team by instilling a winning mentality in her players.

"Since I didn't get to recruit for this first year, the players on this team have a little different mentality than the players we'll recruit next year," Soileau said. "These players came to Tech to be students. But now they have the chance to play collegiate soccer.

"I'm not going to compromise my standards of intensity and strong mentality that it will take to win on this level. The players who are still standing will be able to tell our recruits what direction we're going and how hard we're working to build a winning program. I'm not concerned with where they're from or where they have played as much as how hard they play."

Soileau knows this inaugural team may not be the most talented in Division I, but she will demand that her players work to push the new program to the next level.

"I love the kids who work their hearts out," Soileau said. "I'll take anyone who is willing to work day in and day out, those committed to getting better."

Asked about her vision for the future of Lady Techster soccer, Soileau's unquenchable thirst for victory confidently calls for wins.

"In three to four years, I would like to see us competitive in conference play," Soileau said. "I hope to have one big, quality class to set the tone for the program so we can be competitive in the WAC. In these first two years, we're going to build something to attract the caliber of players that we need. This first team is setting the foundation for this program."