Eagle Insider - University of the Ozarks

DROTAR to head women’s soccer program
SCHOENHALS WINS HURIE AWARD
Senior women's soccer player Kate Schoenhals was given the 2008 Hurie Award at
the university's annual student awards convocation in April.
Schoenhals of Medford, Oregon, earned All-Conference honors as a midfielder all
four years and was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America District
VI Team following the 2007 season. She finished her career as the program’s leader in
career starts (68). She is a three-time member of the American Southwest Conference
All-Academic Team. A biology major, she plans to attend veterinary school at Oregon
State University in the fall.
Schoenhals joins three other former Ozarks’ athletes to be named Hurie Award
winners. Lindsey Turnbow, a member of the women’s soccer team, was the recipient
in 2005. In 2004, Mandy Hock, a member of the women's tennis team, was named the
recipient. In 2002, women's basketball player Christie Shuffield received the honor.
Each year the faculty members of the University of the Ozarks elect one student
to receive the Hurie Award, given to the outstanding member of the senior class. This
award is named for Wiley Lin Hurie, who was president of this institution from 1923 to
1949. The Hurie Award is the highest honor an Ozarks student can receive. The faculty
members choose a graduating senior who has been an exemplary scholar, a campus
leader, and a person of outstanding character.
Bryan Drotar has been named the new Head Women’s Soccer Coach. Drotar, a native of Longmont, Colo., was the head
women’s coach at NAIA Geneva College (Pa.) from 2002-2004 where he led the team to the playoffs in 2003. Prior to his
arrival, the team went 3-15. Drotar’s team steadily improved in each of his three seasons, with the 2003 team posting a 4-5-1
conference mark.
He served as the assistant women’s coach at NAIA Missouri Baptist College for one season, helping the team to a 12-5-1
record in 2001. Drotar was the boy’s and girl’s head coach at Longmont High School (Colo.) and led both teams to the playoffs
during his tenure. He is currently the Director of Coaching with the Pittsburgh Strikers Soccer Club and is the owner of
Step Ahead Soccer, a Pittsburgh-area business that provides private and group lessons.
Drotar earned his bachelor’s degree in biblical studies from Colorado Christian University in 1996. He received his master’s
degree in sports science from the United States Sports Academy in 2005. He holds an “A” License from the United
States Soccer Federation and has an advanced National Diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.
He played at Biola University (Calif.).
“Bryan has all of the qualities we were looking for,” said Athletics Director Jimmy Clark. “We are excited he is coming on
board at Ozarks. I think he will bring stability to the program, and I believe he can move our program forward. His college
coaching experience at a small, private institution is a plus for recruiting.”
Drotar and his wife, Bria, are the parents of four children, Ally, Samuel, Kara and Arden.
WOMEN’S SOCCER team
posts best record in
school history
Senior Jessalyn Halsted scored 19 goals and had 17 assists in her career
Under first-year head
coach Chad Leonard, the
2007 Lady Eagles narrowly
missed the playoffs, finishing
in seventh place, one spot
from earning the program’s
first ever post-season appearance.
At 7-6-4, Ozarks
had the program’s highest
winning percentage (.529)
and tied the program record
in wins. In ASC play, the
Lady Eagles finished with a
6-6-1 mark, the most league
wins in the program’s history,
while tying the school record
in highest ASC winning
percentage (.500). Ozarks
also set a number of statistical
records, including fewest
goals allowed (23), lowest
goals against average (1.35)
and most assists (31).