Fotopoulos brings an amazing resume. She was a two-time SEC Player of the Year at Florida and was the Soccer America Player of the Year in 1998 after leading the Gators to the national championship.Soccer great Danielle Fotopoulos has been hired as the new women's soccer coach at Eckerd College, while Steve Magee will be taking the helm of the EC men's soccer program.
Fotopoulos is the NCAA Division I all-time leading goal scorer and a former U.S. national team member. A former All-America selection at Florida, she comes to Eckerd after having most recently served on the U.S. U-14 national ID staff.
"We are delighted to welcome Danielle to the Eckerd College family,” Dr. Bob Fortosis, Eckerd Director of Athletics, said. “She is a dynamic and proven coach who passionately embraces the notion of intense athletics competition on a campus where the highest priority is academic excellence. She will be a phenomenal role model for the women in our soccer program."
Fotopoulos brings an amazing resume. She was a two-time SEC Player of the Year at Florida and was the Soccer America Player of the Year in 1998 after leading the Gators to the national championship.
Fotopoulos continued her career with U.S. women’s soccer, and was a member of the 1999 FIFA World Cup championship squad. She continued her professional career in the Women’s United Soccer Association and was a two-time All-Star selection.
She began her college coaching career in 2003, serving as co-head coach at LSU. After spending two seasons in Baton Rouge, she later became an assistant coach at Florida in 2006.
“I am truly honored for the opportunity to be the head coach at Eckerd,” Fotopoulos said. “It is a school that will attract student-athletes, it is in a great soccer conference, and I am really excited to be a part of a program with high expectations.”
Fotopoulos was inducted into UF’s Hall of Fame in 2008. She graduated from UF with a bachelor’s degree in 1999.
“We will immediately start getting ready for the preseason,” Fotopoulos said. “I can’t wait to get to know these players. I am really looking forward to sharing my experiences.”
Magee comes to Eckerd after spending the last three years as the assistant coach at UNC Wilmington.
"Steve Magee is a talented coach, a dynamic, charismatic leader, and a man of impeccable character,” Fortosis said. “He will be a perfect fit for our men's soccer program, our department and the Eckerd College community. I have great confidence that Steve will have an immediate positive impact on our men's soccer program and on our campus."
Magee brings coaching experience from virtually every level. While at UNCW, the Northern Ireland native helped the Seahawks to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2009.
UNCW was ranked as high as 18th in the final Division I soccer polls. Along with coaching duties, Magee was directly involved in fundraising, alumni relations and community service projects. He was honored as the NSCAA Regional Assistant Coach of the Year last year.
Before joining the Seahawks, Magee spent nearly five years – during two different stints -- as the Director of Coaching for the Charlotte Soccer Club. He oversaw and developed the successful youth soccer program for kids ages four through 18. He also spent a year as the Director of Coaching for girls at the New Orleans Soccer Academy.
“I am so excited to be joining the Eckerd College family,” Magee said. “I was just so impressed with the family atmosphere when I visited the school, and we cannot wait to get down there.”
Magee played collegiately at UNC Greensboro, where he was a two-year captain, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in leisure studies in 1997. He and his wife, Courtney, have a son, Keane.