In two seasons with the Methodist Monarchs, Tony Tommasi has coached the women's soccer team to a 33-9-2 overall record while going undefeated in USA South Athletic Conference play.

Last season, the Monarchs finished 17-5, the most wins since the National Runners-Up in 1995. Tommasi led the team to its second USA South regular season championship while capturing the program's first conference tournament trophy.

Tommasi arrived just in time to coach the 2006 season and led the team to a regular season conference championship before dropping the championship game in penalty kicks. The Monarchs received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, the team's first appearance since 1995.

"This is a fabulous opportunity for me," Tommasi said. "I am honored to be the next coach in Methodist history.  This is an exciting opportunity for me to not only be back on the east coast for my family, but also to solidify my coaching career and legacy and help the Methodist Women's Soccer program raise their bar of competition on the national level."

Tommasi brings tremendous credentials to an already successful women's soccer program at Methodist. In addition to his head coaching experience at Texas Lutheran, he has coached at Trinity (TX) University, Mississippi State, and Randolph-Macon College as an assistant coach. 

During his tenure at Texas Lutheran, the Bulldogs experienced great success under Tommasi's guidance.  Taking over a seven-year old program that had a combined record of 22-100 before his arrival, Tommasi guided the program to a 49-34-5 record in his five years.  In just his second season at the helm, Tommasi was named the American Southwest Conference Coach of the Year for guiding Texas Lutheran to a 10-7-1 finish, the first winning season in school history.  The following year Tommasi's squad reached even greater heights, finishing 12-6-1, advancing to the American Southwest Conference finals, and finishing as the #10 ranked team in the South Region.  In 2004 Tommasi's Bulldogs continued to improve again eclipsing the school record, winning 14 games to just four losses and one tie.    

Prior to joining Texas Lutheran in 2001, Tommasi spent time assisting with the women's soccer program at Trinity, in San Antonio, Texas.  Trinity advanced to NCAA Division III National Semi-Finals that season.  The two previous years, Tommasi was the head assistant coach at NCAA Division I Mississippi State, where he assumed head coaching duties for an extended period of time. 

Tommasi spent most of the 1990's in Virginia.  From 1992-1999 he directed the training for the Richmond Capitals Soccer Club.  He became the Director of Coaching and Training for the Central Virginia Olympic Training Development Program in Richmond from 1995-99.  In addition, he served as the head varsity girl's soccer coach at Midlothian (VA) High School and assisted with the soccer program at Randolph-Macon College from 1997-1999.

His summer camp experience includes senior camp staff experience with UNC-Chapel Hill, Texas A&M, University of Richmond, East Carolina, Trinity, and Texas.

Tommasi earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1985 from the University of Richmond.  He, and his wife Chappell, are proud parents of daughters Kyra and Talia. They recently welcomed their son, Michael Anthony, in July of 2007.
 

Rachel Quesada, Assistant Coach
rquesada@methodist.edu
(910) 630-7095
Serving as the assistant coach for the Monarchs is Rachel Quesada. Originally from Edmonds, Washington, Quesada played collegiate soccer at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas.  There her team won three conference championships, making three NCAA tournament appearances.  Quesada was chosen as a four-time All-Conference selection and a two-time All-Region selection. 

After graduating from college in 2005 with a degree in exercise science, Quesada served as an assistant coach at Hardin-Simmons responsible for goalkeeping as well as strength and conditioning.  She has also spent time as an adjunct physical education professor and YMCA fitness director in Abilene. Quesada currently holds regional and state diplomas in goalkeeping from the NSCAA.