E&H picks new soccer coach

Emory & Henry College Director of Athletics Anne Crutchfield has announced Lisa Buckley as the next head coach of the Wasp women’s soccer program. Buckley joins the E&H staff after serving as Head Women’s Soccer Coach at Milligan University for the last 13 years. This past fall, she led the Buffaloes to a 6-5 record in an abbreviated conference-only season.
During her tenure at Milligan, Buckley won more than 100 games and recorded three straight 10-win seasons from 2017 to 2019. She led the Buffaloes to an Appalachian Athletic Conference Championship in 2010 and her teams consistently finished in the top four of the league standings. Buckley has coached 51 All-AAC performers, including one league offensive and defensive player of the year. She was named the 2010 AAC Coach of the Year by her peers.
“I am excited to welcome Lisa to the Emory & Henry family,” Crutchfield said. “Lisa’s ability to teach as well as her passion for developing student-athletes both on and off the field is a perfect fit for us. I look forward to working with her as we continue the upward trajectory of our women’s soccer program.”
Prior to coaching at Milligan, Buckley served as an assistant coach for two seasons at Loras (Iowa) College. She was part of a string of five straight Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships and five consecutive berths to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
During her time as an undergraduate, Buckley was a three-year starter for the Buffaloes. She helped Milligan win three straight AAC Championships, a NAIA Region XII title and a spot in the 2001 NAIA National Tournament.
“I am so excited to become a part of the Emory & Henry family, and I am extremely impressed by the vision the College has for athletics as a whole,” said Buckley. “I would like to thank Anne Crutchfield for her belief in my ability to take the reins of the women’s soccer program, and I can’t wait to begin working with the team in January.”
Buckley graduated from Milligan in 2004 with a Bachelor’s Degree in human performance and exercise science and earned a master’s degree in athletic administration from Loras.  She also holds a United Soccer Coaches (formerly NSCAA) National Diploma, a learning opportunity to expand coaching knowledge and improve player development.
Emory & Henry recently announced their intentions to apply for membership at the Division II level. The next step in the realignment process is completing the formal application to the NCAA due by Feb. 1, 2021. The NCAA Membership Committee will meet in mid-July to vote on the application. If accepted, Emory & Henry will begin the first of three provisional years in August 2021. If all benchmarks are met, the college would be eligible for full membership in August 2024.