University of SC Aiken

Aiken, SC 29801

South Carolina Southeast

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Tina Murphy

Tina Murphy is in her first year at the helm of the women's soccer team at USC Aiken.

“Tina brings great energy and passion with a detailed plan to build a competitive program at USC Aiken, Herlihy stated. “She has a track record of program improvement and player development. Tina has championship experience to her credit. At every turn during the search, we heard she was a natural leader who was a tireless recruiter and raised the bar for those around her every day. We are excited for her leadership of our women’s soccer program.”

She becomes the fifth head coach in school history for a program that will celebrate its 25th year as an NCAA program in the fall of 2021.

Murphy, a veteran of NCAA Division I and NAIA soccer, joins the Pacers after three years at the helm of Montreat College in Montreat, N.C. Murphy took over a program that was ranked 190 out of 195 NAIA teams and has helped the program soar into the top 40 in the country (No. 36 out of 128 that played in the fall of 2020). She was named the Appalachian Athletic Conference Coach of the Year for her effort.

In the three years prior to her taking over the Cavaliers’ program, Montreat had two total wins in conference play. By the third season, the squad had a .708 winning percentage.

She helped the defense reduce the number of goals allowed from 68 the year before her arrival to just eight in the fall of 2020. During the same time, the offense went from a nine-goal campaign in 2017 to 38 in 2020 despite playing fewer matches.

Not to be outdone off the field, one-third of Montreat’s team was named to the league’s all-academic team while the overall team GPA stood at 3.43.

Prior to her arrival at Montreat, Murphy was the Elite Training coach for one of the largest youth clubs in the country – North Carolina FC, further developing herself as a coach and continuing to establish and strengthen her recruiting ties in the Southeast. Murphy was responsible for tryout evaluations and leading training sessions while possessing high demonstration ability as a coach.

From 2011-13, Murphy served as the assistant coach at Division I Liberty University for three seasons. There, she developed key recruiting relationships throughout the Southeast region. With the Flames, she recruited prospective student-athletes, prepared film and match analysis, assisted in the planning and training sessions, coordinated all aspects of travel, designed and led spring and summer workout programs and ran individual player development training sessions.

From 2008-10, she was the head coach of Praia Grande Brazil as she pioneered a first-year team competing in the 1st Division Professional league in Sao Paulo. Her team placed in the top four of every event they entered.

Murphy has also been the head coach of the Triangle United Soccer Association, Central Virginia United Soccer Club and the Olympic Development Program.

A Walter Panas H.S. graduate in New York, Murphy was a Parade All-American and was named one of the top five defenders nationally. She played for the University of North Carolina, winning four national championships and five ACC titles during her time. Murphy was selected to the U-20 Women’s National Team pool, was on the ACC honor roll and made the Dean’s List under legendary Hall of Fame coach Anson Dorrance.

After earning her bachelor of science in exercise and sport science in 2000 from UNC, Murphy played semi-professionally for the Charlotte Lady Eagles in the W-League. She was named captain after her first year and remained in the role until she retired seven years later. A two-time All-W-League and three-time all-conference selection, Murphy is the all-time leading goal-scorer and all-time points leader for the Eagles under the guidance of Hall of Fame coach lee Horton.

Murphy also played professional for three years with Santos Futebol Clube (Brazil 1st Division), Bristol Football Club (England 1st Division) for two years and she spent a year with Ferroviária Futebol Clube (Brazil 1st Division).

She holds a United States Soccer Federation ‘C’ License, United States Soccer Federation ‘D’ License and United States Soccer Federation ‘E’ License.

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Alecia McNiff

Alecia McNiff is in her first year as the assistant women's soccer coach at USC Aiken.

She comes to USC Aiken with head coach Tina Murphy after spending the previous season at Montreat. She helped the Cavaliers to an 8-3-3 ledger.

In 2020, McNiff was the assistant women's soccer coach at Marshall University. There, she assisted with practice and game plan development and implementation. McNiff was responsible for designing plans and training goalkeepers and pregame keeper preparation.

The Marietta, Pa. native previously coached as an assistant at Saint Francis University in her home state for five seasons. From 2015 through 2019, McNiff guided the Red Flash soccer players and program to numerous accomplishments after playing with the school all four years of her undergrad. While with SFU, she was in charge of goalkeeper training.

Under five-time Northeast Conference (NEC) Coach of the Year, Brenda van Stralen, McNiff mentored a pair of NEC Player of the Years, two NEC Golden Boot winners, an NEC Midfielder of the Year, 18 all-conference players and nine all-rookie athletes. In the 2016 and 2017 seasons, the Red Flash won the NEC Championship and punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

As a player with the Red Flash from 2010 to 2014, McNiff notched three NEC Defender of the Year honors, becoming the first NEC player to win multiple Defender of the Year awards in a career. McNiff, who was a captain her senior season, led a back line that held opposition scoreless in 34 matches throughout her four years with the team.

Her sophomore, junior and senior seasons, McNiff earned recognition as an all-region defender, while being named a Scholar All-American by the National Soccer Coaches' Association her final two years of play. McNiff celebrated a pair of NEC Championships as a player in 2010 and 2013, prior to earning her bachelor's degree in exercise physiology from Saint Francis in 2014.

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Nick Sakiewicz

University of South Carolina Aiken Director of Athletics Todd Wilkinson is pleased to announce the hiring of Nick Sakiewicz as head men's soccer coach.

"I am very pleased that Coach Sakiewicz will lead our men's soccer program, Wilkinson said. "His passion and enthusiasm for USC Aiken and the game of soccer was inspiring as we got to know each other. His successful experience as an Assistant Coach at Saint Leo University, Elon University, Guilford College, Johnson and Wales University-Denver and Villanova University brings the Pacers a coach that has been around a high level of play while preparing himself professionally to lead a soccer program.

"He knows what an elite team looks like and will produce a template focused on growth and success as Pacer men's soccer is recreated. It is time for USC Aiken men's soccer to be on the rise in the Peach Belt and Southeast region and Coach Sakiewicz's vision and passion will get us there. Pacer men's soccer is in great hands going forward. Go Pacers!"

"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead the USC Aiken men's soccer program and work with the great people in the Division of Athletics," Sakiewicz stated. "I am looking forward to moving the program into a new direction that will have success in the classroom, in the community, and on the field. I want to thank Todd Wilkinson, Dexter Harris, Brennan Hand, Susan Hood, Tim Hall, and Jaclin Poole. Go Pacers!"

Sakiewicz comes to USC Aiken from Saint Leo, where he served as an Assistant Coach since August 2020. In 2022, he helped guide the Lions to back-to-back shutout victories over nationally ranked No. 8 AUM as well as No. 24 West Florida.

While there, he recruited in-state, nationally and internationally. Sakiewicz handled the budget for travel, recruiting and video equipment while also organizing team travel needs. He coordinated and planned fundraising events and organized the recruiting schedule.

Sakiewicz spent time as the Director of Soccer Operations role at Villanova University (NCAA DI) as well as assistant coaching stints for Johnson & Wales University – Denver (NAIA), Guilford College (NCAA DIII), Elon University (NCAA DI) and Saint Leo (NCAA DII).

Off the pitch, his teams thrived. While at Johnson & Wales University-Denver, his team held the No. 3 National Academic Rank with a team GPA of 3.48. On the field, his squad made it to the conference championship match.

Beyond collegiate soccer, he has been on staff for the USA U-16 National Team, where he focused on opponent scouting and video breakdown. He has also served as a scout for the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer (MLS), where he developed opponent scouting reports as well as player identification of MLS prospects. Finally, he has club experience, coaching three club teams: Burling Soccer Club, Colorado Rapids, and FC Delco. Sakiewicz holds a National "C" License from the United States Soccer Federation.

His passion for the game stems for his own soccer career playing for West Chester University, where he earned a psychology degree in 2014.