Former Soccer Club coach hired by USC

Keidane McAlpine, former Vestavia Hills Soccer Club Coach and the 2013 Pac-12 and NSCAA Pacific Region Coach of the Year, has been named the new head coach of the University of Southern California’s women’s soccer team.

“We conducted a national search with a great pool of candidates, and Keidane really stood out with his vision of what he wants to bring to the USC soccer program,” Trojan athletic director Pat Haden said. “He has already shown his ability to coach and succeed at the highest level, and his experience as a head coach in the Pac-12 is a big plus. We believe he is uniquely qualified to lead USC back to the successful level that we expect for our soccer program.”

McAlpine has served the past two seasons (2012-13) as head coach at Washington State, where he guided the Cougars to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and a program-best second place finish in the Pac-12 in 2013. Prior to Washington State, McAlpine spent six years (2006-11) as an assistant at Auburn, helping the Tigers to NCAA appearances each season along with three SEC West titles. 

A 1997 graduate of Birmingham-Southern College, he spent three seasons (1998-2000) as an assistant women’s coach before taking over as his alma mater’s head women’s coach in 2001 for the program’s first season of NCAA competition following participation at the NAIA level. 

– Submitted by Jason Woodall