BENNINGTON, Vt. - The Southern Vermont College Department of Intercollegiate Athletics named Shawn Holcombe as head women's soccer coach.

Holcombe was most recently the head coach at Parish Hill High School in Chaplin, Connecticut where he turned a team that had one victory the year prior to his arrival in 2005 to a squad that went undefeated in conference play during the 2006 and 2007 (24-0) and allowed only one goal over that span. His teams were the first in over a decade at the entire school to win a conference championship.

"We feel as though we found a winner in Shawn," said SVC Director of Athletics Benjamin Kozik. "Shawn will build a program much like he did on the high school level. What impresses me most about him is how highly recommended he comes from so many people."

Holcombe has seven years of collegiate experience as an assistant coach at Teikyo Post University and Wesleyan University.

"Rebuilding the Women's Soccer program here at Southern Vermont College is the challenge, and opportunity, that I relish," said Holcombe. "Everything that Athletic Director Ben Kozik has told me leads me to believe that I am in the right place at the right time, and the entire staff of the college is all on board for making the best future for Southern Vermont College. There is no better time to be here than now."

Holcombe attended Eastern Connecticut State University as an undergrad and is a thesis away from Master's Degree from Central Connecticut State University.

Located on a beautiful mountainside campus overlooking the Green Mountains of Vermont, Southern Vermont College is a nurturing habitat for the qualities that will help you succeed in work and in life. The college's focus on liberal arts encourages critical thinking, the development of original ideas, and an understanding of our complex world. SVC's focus on careers will give you practical skills and experience. And because our campus extends into the local township, you learn how to connect with and work within a real community in order to make the world a better place. The school offers 12 varsity athletic programs and the College is a NCAA Division III Member.