University of Kentucky women’s soccer head coach Jon Lipsitz announced Friday that Michelle Rayner has been elevated to associate head coach.

“Michelle has been here since the first day I was here,” Lipsitz said. “She has experience as a head coach at this level and I feel that it seems to be the way of athletics and the way of our sport to indicate experience with job titles. This is certainly something that she deserves and something that I feel important to indicate publically.”

Rayner has served as the Wildcats recruiting coordinator the last four seasons, and in 2012, broke through in helping deliver a top-five national recruiting class.

Rayner returned to Lexington after serving as the head coach of High Point from 2005-09, guiding the Highlanders to the Big South Tournament Championship in 2007, recording the school’s first NCAA Tournament appearance. She served as an assistant coach at Kentucky under Warren Lipka from 2001-04 where she helped coach seven Wildcats to achieving All-Southeastern Conference honors prior to being named the head coach at High Point.

“I believe when we are running this program, we are all running it together,” Lipsitz said of his entire staff. “Rather than just splitting things up and doing everything as fast as we can, we really take our time, focus on the details and do it the right way all together. It may take more time, but I think it is better for each student-athlete and each individual on the staff including myself.

“It is important to emphasize that the women’s soccer staff is not people who work for me, but rather people working with me. I feel fortunate to have such an incredible staff with leadership and vision,” Lipsitz said.

Assistant coach Aaron Rodgers has been one of the most vital members of the women’s soccer staff, serving as an important member of the recruiting process, helping execute the tactical parts of the game and working closely with the goalkeepers. Rodgers has been with UK for three years and will be entering his fourth season with the team in 2012.

“On a daily basis, Aaron is more in charge of the details making us a great program, than anyone else. His growth and our growth together as a staff have been phenomenal,” Lipsitz said.

In addition, Cortney Wiesler, who was recently named Director of Women’s Soccer Operations, has been with the staff since its inception four years ago, taking care of most off-the-field activities, camps, team travel and working with the coaches on the day-to-day operations of the program. Wiesler played her college soccer at the West Virginia Institute of Technology, earning All-Mid-South Conference honors while serving as team captain.

“Cortney has grown so much,” Lipsitz said. “When I think of our coaching staff, I really think of the four of us together and all that we do to help this program and each individual. Her growth in a few years has been amazing going from basic stat keeping to truly someone that I know will end up leaving us to be a great young coach.”

The Wildcats kickoff the UK Athletics schedule on Aug. 17, hosting Coastal Carolina at the UK Soccer Complex.

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