RAMS ADD OLYMPIC MEDALIST TO COACHING STAFF
RICHMOND, Va.—Virginia Commonwealth University is adding a former player with international success in hopes of making the Rams contenders on the national level. Co-head coaches Tim Sahaydak and Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak, an Olympic gold medalist with the United States in 1996, announced the addition of Siri Mullinix, the U.S. goalkeeper on the Olympic silver medal squad in 2000, as an assistant coach at VCU. Roberts Sahaydak and Mullinix were also teammates for four seasons at the University of North Carolina, winning national championships in 1996 and 1997.

“We are excited to bring someone the caliber of Siri Mullinix onto our staff, not only because she’s an Olympic medalist, but also because she has been coaching at the collegiate level for a long time,” Roberts Sahaydak said. “She is an excellent coach and an outstanding recruiter.”

Mullinix joins the Rams after spending the last three years in her hometown as an assistant coach for the University of North Carolina Greensboro. In her final two seasons with the Spartans, UNC Greensboro advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Last season, the Spartans moved into the second round of the tournament with a 1-0 win over Memphis.

In 2006, UNCG reached the NCAA Tournament and completed an undefeated Southern Conference regular-season. Under the tutelage of Mullinix, goalkeeper Katherine Ryan posted a 13-8-2 record and an impressive .837 saves percentage and a 0.90 goals against average.

During her first season with the Spartans, the club posted an 11-7-1 record and a third place finish in the Southern Conference with a 6-3-1 league slate. Under the watchful eye of Mullinix, the UNCG goalkeeping core allowed a mere 16 goals in 19 games for a 0.80 goals against average. The club posted nine shutouts on the season, including seven by Jennifer Stillman, who also produced the third lowest GAA in school history with a 0.91 mark.

“I’m obviously very excited to join an extremely talented staff at VCU,” Mullinix said. “I’ve known Tiffany since we started playing together during my freshman year at North Carolina. We’ve had a lot of experience together on the national team, as well. I’ve known her and Tim for a long time, and they are both very knowledgeable and experienced. I’m joining a great staff, and to get the chance to coach with a friend and a former teammate makes it even more exciting.”

As a player at UNC, Mullinix was a three-year starter, appearing in 90 matches during her career. She won two NCAA titles and three ACC championships during her time with the Tar Heels under legendary coach Anson Dorrance. After backing up All-American Tracy Ducar during her freshman season, Mullinix played in 25 games as a sophomore, allowing just six goals in the 1996 season. She earned an NCAA-record 120-minute shutout in the Tar Heels’ national championship victory over Notre Dame.

The following year, she appeared in 26 games and allowed just three goals in the 1997 season, recording a 0.19 GAA and leading UNC to a second consecutive national championship. For her performance in the national semifinals and championship game, Mullinix earned Defensive Most Valuable Player honors. In her senior season, she started all 26 games, leading North Carolina back to the national title game. For her collegiate career, Mullinix had a 0.27 GAA, second-best in school-history.

Following her days in Chapel Hill, Mullinix spent three seasons playing with the Washington Freedom in the WUSA. The squad made back-to-back Founders Cup game appearances in 2002 and 2003, winning the 2003 championship. In 2003, Mullinix earned a place on the WUSA All-Star team.

“Tim and I are great friends with Siri,” Roberts Sahaydak said. “She is a great coach who will bring some different things to our program. We all have different strengths and we will play well off of each other. She will be involved in decisions right away. Knowing her and trusting her as well as we do, there will be no adjustment period.”
Mullinix joins a VCU team that has played in three CAA championship games in the past four seasons, including a CAA championship victory in 2004. In 2007, the Rams finished 11-8-3 and advanced to the CAA championship game. VCU, which returns nine starters from a year ago, will open the 2008 regular season Friday, August 29 at cross-town rival Richmond.