University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff Director of Athletics Lonza Hardy Jr. has announced the hiring of Rohan Naraine to the position of head soccer coach.

 

Naraine joins Arkansas-Pine Bluff after spending the past two season at St. Andrews College, where he served as the head women’s soccer coach for both seasons. Prior to coaching at St. Andrews, Naraine was the head women’s soccer coach at Coastal Carolina University, where he compiled a 48-29-7 overall record. In his seasons at CCU, he produced a 23-8-2 league record; captured two Big South Conference championships (2007, 2008); and made two Big South Tournament finals appearances and was also named the 2007 Big South Coach of the Year.

 

“We’re elated to welcome Coach Naraine as a part of our family here at Arkansas-Pine Bluff,” stated Hardy.  “He is a very personal individual whose record as a head coach speaks for itself, both in the athletics arena as well as on the athletics field.  I know that he will be able to come in and have a positive impact on our program while enhancing our reputation as one of the top women’s soccer powers in our region and in the nation.”

 

Naraine has developed an extremely successful balance of academic and athletic achievement during his years as a head coach. His teams have consistently been touted for their academic accolades, with many of his student-athletes having maintained a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better.

 

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to take over the helm of the soccer program at Arkansas-Pine Bluff,” said Naraine. “Over the course of the past several seasons, Coach (Roberto) Mazza and the Lady Lions soccer program have established a reputation of success on the soccer field and most importantly in the classroom. My goals for this program center around graduating our student-athletes and helping them reach their full potential athletically and academically.”   

 

Naraine coached a total of six years in Conway, S.C., having also served as an assistant women’s soccer coach at Coastal Carolina in 2002 and 2005.

 

The Guyana native has nearly 25 years of coaching experience at multiple levels. Nariane began his career at Coker College, where he led the program for four seasons before being named head women’s soccer coach at Southern University.

 

“I feel really good about the direction of the soccer program at UAPB under the leadership of Mr. Hardy,” stated Naraine. “Upon initially visiting the campus for my interview, I felt extremely comfortable as I met with Chancellor (Lawrence) Davis, Mr. Hardy, and various athletics staff members. I truly feel that the future is very bright for the soccer program at Arkansas-Pine Bluff and I couldn’t be more excited about continuing to build on the foundation that Coach Mazza and the administration have established.”

 

During his playing days, Naraine attended North Carolina Wesleyan College, where he was a stand-out athlete. He was named team captain and was also an All-Region honoree, while leading the Battling Bishops to the NCAA Division III National Tournament in 1984. As a prepster Naraine attended Theodore Roosevelt high school in Washington D.C. leading them to a State Championship in 1981, That same year he was named the Washington Post Defensive Player of the Year.  

 

Naraine brings a wealth of coaching knowledge to the Lady Lions’ soccer program, having served as a staff member of the men’s and women’s Guyana National Team that competes in the CONCACAT region. In 1999, he was chosen to the coaching staff of the Guyana men’s soccer Olympic soccer team.  Naraine holds a FIFA Olympic License along with his NSCAA National Coaching License. Naraine and his wife Nalini are the proud parents of a daughter Nikki (10). He is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc (1983).