UCLA Official Athletic Site - Women's Soccer



 
UCLA's Joy Fawcett Retires From Coaching

Dec. 3, 1997

Joy Fawcett, who has coached the UCLA women's soccer program since its inception five years ago, has decided to retire from coaching, associate athletics director Betsy Stephenson announced today. She will stay involved with the program as a volunteer assistant coach.

Fawcett cited her obligations to the U.S. Women's National Team as well as her family commitments (she has two young children) as her reason for retiring and said she has no plans to coach anywhere else.

"I've had a great time coaching at UCLA but I feel I can no longer give the job the time commitment it deserves," said Fawcett. "We have built a fine program but it needs someone who can devote all of their time and energies to continue to take it to the next level.

"If I was going to continue coaching, there is no place I'd rather be than UCLA."

UCLA just completed its best season in the five-year history of the program, finishing 19-3. It reached the NCAA championship quarterfinals, losing at No. 2 Notre Dame on Nov. 29 after upsetting Portland and SMU on the road in the first two rounds. The Bruins won the Pacific-10 title, became the first team to go 9-0 during the league season and won 12 straight games prior to the season-ending loss.

Fawcett compiled a record of 65-24-7 during her five seasons as head coach.

"We are sorry that Joy has decided to step down, but we certainly understand her reasons and wish her all the best," said Stephenson. "She has done an outstanding job of building one of the top young programs in the country while balancing numerous demands on her time. We are very grateful for all of her hard work and contributions over the last five years.

"We will begin a national search immediately. We are committed to our goal of winning an NCAA championship in this sport and will identify the coach best suited to helping us achieve that goal."