Aug. 8, 2006

BOCA RATON, FL - Florida Atlantic University women's soccer head coach Brian Dooley completed the hiring of his coaching staff by bringing back a pair of familiar faces. Jeff Hoerner and Chris Gnehm will re-join the Owls' soccer program after having worked previously on coach Dooley's staff.

Hoerner was at FAU from 2001-2002, working with the team during a 12-5-1 season that saw the Owls fall in the Atlantic Sun Championship game. Prior to joining FAU in 2001, he worked at the State University of New York at Buffalo as a women's soccer assistant coach. Hoerner helped guide the squad to a 46-25-6 record from 1995-1999. After leaving FAU in 2002, he served as a head coach at St. Thomas University, while acting as the regional chair and the Florida Sun Conference chairman for women's soccer. Hoerner was also a member of the NAIA All-American Committee and was named 2004 FSC Coach of the Year. Hoerner graduated from LaSalle University with a bachelor's degree in business administration.

Gnehm joined FAU in 2002 as the team's goalkeeper coach, and has worked on and off with the team since that time. He will join the team in a full-time capacity as the team's goalkeeper coach this season. Gnehm began his coaching career in 1995 with the Soccer Plus Goalkeeping School in Wethersfield, CT. From there, he would start his collegiate career as the assistant men's and women's soccer coach at Averett University in Danville, VA from 1996-1997. Gnehm then moved to Monmouth University, where he held a similar position from 1998-1999. The following season, he coached at Hampden-Sydney College in Hampden-Sydney, VA where he was named the assistant coach. Gnehm would round out his resume with a one-semester stint at Gardner-Webb in the spring of 2000 and finally at Ferrum College in Ferrum, VA from fall 2000 to December 2001. Gnehm obtained a bachelor's degree in physical education from Averett in 1997. He was also a four-year starter on the men's soccer team and served as its captain for three seasons. Gnehm currently holds Averett's school records for most saves in a single season and in a career.

The Owls open the season as the host of the FAU Kickoff Classic, facing College of Charleston on Friday, August 25 at 7:30 p.m. and Virginia Commonwealth on Sunday, August 27 at 1 p.m.