The University of Charleston didn't have to look far when it came to finding its next men's soccer coach, promoting assistant coach Dan Stratford on Monday.
Stratford brings a successful pedigree both as a player and coach to the UC position. He has been on the Charleston staff since 2014 and was also an assistant at West Virginia for two years.
"Many of our current players reached out to me over the past week and expressed their support for Dan," UC athletic director Bren Stevens said. "We believe that Dan possesses all of the qualities that are required for our program to continue to operate at the highest levels within NCAA Division II.
"Dan has an unbelievable work ethic, strong communication skills and is already viewed as a leader on our campus," she added.
He will be making the leap to his first head-coaching role with a team that is coming off its second appearance in the Division II national championship appearance in the last three seasons. The Golden Eagles have made the national semifinals in each of the last three years and are expected to return 10 of the 14 players who played in this year's title game.
That group includes All-Americans Will Roberts and Patrick Guier. Roberts, a three-time All-American, scored 22 goals in 2016, while Guier led the nation with 19 assists and scored nine times for UC.
After he accepted an offer to become the next coach at Marshall, former Charleston coach Chris Grassie offered a major endorsement for Stratford to take over the job. The two had grown very close during their time together at UC and believed that the young assistant is ready for the challenge that comes with leading a program for the first time.
"When things are going well and you're super successful, it makes sense to promote from within to maintain that culture," Grassie said. "Dan's ready for a head coaching job. We've talked a lot about his career development. He wants that challenge and the responsibility and he's ready for it. We need to maintain this program's status as a powerhouse in Division II and Dan's someone who can do that."
Prior to getting into the coaching profession, Stratford also had a decorated playing career. He was one of the best players in program history at WVU, where he currently holds the school record for most career appearances with 85. Stratford also holds the program record with 27 assists in his career.
After college, D.C. United selected him in the Major League Soccer Supplemental Draft in 2008 before stints in the Scottish Premier League and League Two in England with Inverness and Hereford United.