MARC HUBBARD NAMED MEN'S SOCCER COACH

MANCHESTER, N.H. - Southern New Hampshire University Director of Athletics Chip Polak announced Wednesday that Marc Hubbard has been named head men's soccer coach at SNHU effective immediately.  Hubbard, who has spent the past five seasons as an assistant coach at the University of New Hampshire, becomes the seventh head coach in the 44-year history of the program.  He succeeds Dave Anderson, who resigned after the 2007 campaign.

"We are pleased that Marc has accepted our offer to become our next men's soccer coach," said Polak.  "He stood out amongst a large field of quality applicants and I am confident that having Marc as our head coach will allow us to maintain the success the men's soccer program has enjoyed over the years."

"I am honored to continue my coaching career at Southern New Hampshire University.  I want to thank Chip Polak for giving me the opportunity to lead the Penmen back to their proper rank atop Division II," said Hubbard.  "SNHU is a special place and the athletic program and staff made my decision to want to work here an easy one.  Their professionalism and enthusiasm displayed in the interview process were first class."

A native of Durham, NH, Hubbard has spent the past five seasons as head coach Rob Thompson's top assistant at UNH.  During his tenure, the Wildcats advanced to the America East Conference semifinals in 2006 and 2007 and posted a 12-5-3 record in 2006 which earned the UNH coaching staff the America East Coaching Staff of the Year award.  In 2005 New Hampshire was ranked No. 1 in New England for just the second time in program history and was ranked No. 23 nationally.  UNH was 40-30-21 over Hubbard's tenure and during that span produced two America East Goalkeeper of the Year selections, one Rookie of the Year, one Offensive Player of the Year, 14 All-America East and seven NSCAA All-Region players.

UNH's success during Hubbard's tenure came off the field as well as the program had its first Academic All-American in 2005.  29 players earned All-Academic honors from America East, while in 2007 New Hampshire earned recognition from the NCAA for its Academic Progress Rate (APR) of 995.  The Wildcats also received a NSCAA Team Academic Achievement Award in 2006 and 2007.

A 2003 graduate of Colgate University, Hubbard enjoyed a stellar four-year career with the Raiders.  He was a three-time Patriot League Second Team selection and earned NSCAA All-New York honors as a senior.  Hubbard also served as team captain and was the president of Colgate's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) from 2001-03.

Hubbard has also played on the professional level, spending the past three years with the New Hampshire Phantoms of the USL Second Division, serving as team captain in 2006 & 2007.  In 2006, Hubbard was a USL First Team selection and a Defender of the Year finalist. He also has professional experience with the Wilmington (NC) Hammerheads and the Syracuse Salty Dogs.

A 1999 graduate of Oyster River High School, Hubbard led the Bobcats to the New Hampshire Class I title as a senior while racking up 23 goals and 18 assists.  He was an All-New England selection and was named Player of the Year by both Foster's Daily Democrat and the Portsmouth Herald.  Hubbard played club soccer with Seacoast United and captained the U-18 team to a New Hampshire state championship.  He later went on to coach with SUSC, leading the U-16 squad to a state title in 2005.  He currently coaches the U-16 SUSC Academy league which competes in the new US Soccer developmental academy.

Hubbard graduated from Colgate in 2003 with a degree in Political Science.  He later went on to earn his master's at UNH in Kinesiology: Sports Studies in 2006.

Hubbard takes over a program that was 5-8-5 in 2007 and reached the Northeast-10 Conference Tournament for the eighth straight year.  The Penmen have traditionally been one of the top Division II programs in the country, capturing the NCAA national championship in 1989 and advancing to the national championship game in 2002.  SNHU has appeared in 13 NCAA Tournaments and boasts 19 All-Americans.

"The tradition of winning and competing at SNHU speaks for itself.  The school is rich in its resources and facilities and the student-athletes here have every opportunity to succeed both on and off the field.  Success does not come without hard work and I believe whole-heartedly that this program, myself included, is up for the challenge," said Hubbard.