IIT Names Assistant Soccer Coaches for 2004
Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) has made two key appointments in its fledgling intercollegiate men’s and women’s soccer programs, hiring coaches well known in Chicagoland soccer circles for both their playing and coaching abilities.
Athletic director and Head Soccer Coach Lee Hitchen named Art Garza assistant men’s soccer coach and Paul Halm assistant women’s soccer coach.
“We have added two quality individuals who both possess solid experience at the collegiate level in both recruiting and game strategy,” said Hitchen. “I know Art and Paul will make outstanding contributions to our programs.”
Garza comes to IIT after spending the last seven seasons as the head men’s soccer coach at CCAC-rival, the University of Saint Francis in Joliet. Garza compiled a 51-80-9 overall record during his tenure at St. Francis. Previously Garza skippered the men’s program at Rosary College in River Forest, Ill. Garza has also served as an assistant coach at Rosary, Morton Junior College and National-Louis University. He is a 1978 graduate of Lewis University where he was a two-time letter winner with the Flyers.
Paul Halm brings more than 15 years of coaching experience with him to the Scarlet Hawk women’s program. The former Lewis University standout currently serves as the Assistant Director of Coaching for the Chicago Freedom Soccer Club and as a trainer at the Pinnacle Soccer Training Academy. In addition, Coach Halm is in his 6th season as an assistant coach for the boys and girls soccer programs at Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox.
The Scarlet Hawks open the 2004 soccer season August 27 at Doane College in Crete, Neb. IIT competes in Division I of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and as a member of the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference, offering programs in baseball, basketball, cross country, soccer, swimming, and women’s volleyball.
Founded in 1890, IIT is a Ph.D.-granting technological university awarding degrees in the sciences, mathematics and engineering, as well as architecture, psychology, design, business and law. IIT’s interprofessional, technology-focused curriculum prepares the university’s 6,200 students for leadership roles in an increasingly complex and culturally diverse global workplace.
