May 18, 2004
Iowa City, IA – The University of Iowa soccer team has announced the hiring of Josh Green and Jen Plante as assistant coaches. Green comes to the Hawkeyes from California while Plante is a native of Ohio. Head Coach Carla Baker announced the hirings.
Green was hired as an assistant coach at Pepperdine University in 1995 and specializes in goalkeeping and defense. Green helped guide Pepperdine to three straight top 25 rankings and NCAA Tournament appearances (2001-03). He also helped Pepperdine gain a West Coast Conference Championship in 2002. Green served as head coach for the Valley United Soccer Club in 2003 and the South Bay Force Soccer Club in 2000-03. He was also head coach for the Pepperdine men’s club soccer team in 2003.
Green was a goalkeeper for California Lutheran University where he earned all-conference and all-regional honors (1992-94). He graduated from California Lutheran University in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in athletic training. Green played for the U.S.I.S.L. affiliated San Fernando Valley Golden Eagles (1994-96) and for the Los Angeles Galaxy of the M.L.S. as a goalkeeper. He was also a member of the semi-professional Los Angeles Football Club. Plante served as assistant coach at Kenyon College in Ohio for a year (2003). Plante was responsible for the organization of the Eagles Soccer Club and also coached a U-12 team to a national ranking within the club. Since 2000, Plante has been the head coach of the Ohio Olympic Development Program.
Plante graduated from Ohio State with a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing and management. While at Ohio State, Plante earned Big Ten Freshman of the Year and first team all-Big Ten honors in 1995. She also participated in the U.S. Olympic Soccer Festival and was a member of the Columbus Ziggs, a semi-professional team.
“These two hirings offer a new beginning for Iowa soccer,” said Baker. “Josh brings great experience and enthusiasm to the program while Jen gives our athletes a very good idea of what it takes to be a great student-athlete. Both coaches will bring a great deal of intensity and work ethic to our program.”