Johnson & Wales Univ at Charlotte

JWU Charlotte Athletics
JWU Wildcat Center 235 S. Cedar St, Ste 145 Charlotte, NC 28202

USCAA North Carolina Southeast

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Coaches

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Matt Hisler

Matt Hisler begins his seventh season at the helm of the JWU Charlotte women’s soccer program. Hired to start the team, he has compiled a 41-52-5 record in his first 6 seasons with the Wildcats. JWU has earned consecutive post-season USCAA national tournament berths in 2016 and 2017, ,and again in 20119. Following a year hiatus due to COVID, the Wildcats again qualified for the USCAA national tournament in 2021. Under Hisler’s leadership, the Wildcats have garnered 13 All-American selections, 41 Academic All-American honorees, and a National Student-Athlete of the Year.

Hisler came to Johnson & Wales from the University of Mount Olive where he served as the Head Women’s Soccer coach from 2007-2014. While at Mount Olive, Hisler led the team to a Conference Carolinas Division Title during the 2011 season and earned berths in the Conference Tournament seven out of eigh tseasons. Hisler’s teams earned six consecutive NSCAA All-Academic Awards and achieved several firsts during his tenure:

First win over a regionally-ranked opponent

First win over a nationally-ranked opponent

First Conference Carolinas regular season title

First regional top-10 ranking (#6 in the southeastregion)

First Academic All-American

School’s first Freshman All-American

Prior to arriving at Mount Olive, Hisler was the Head Men’s Soccer Coach at the College of Mount St. Vincent in Riverdale, NY. While at CMSV, he led the team to the 2006 Hudson Valley Men's Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship and the Conference Tournament Final.

Hisler began his college coaching career as the Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach at Methodist University. He spent four years under the tutelage of Justin Terranova, working for one of the most successful athletic departments in the NCAA. Over the last seventeen years, Hisler has had the opportunity to work with teams at the high school, club, ODP and international levels.

Hisler currently serves on the North Carolina Youth Soccer Association ODP Staff as the Head Coach for the 2002 Girls East Team.

A graduate of Virginia Wesleyan College, Hisler helped lead Virginia Wesleyan College to a national ranking in each of his four years, including a #2 ranking in 1994. The team advanced to the NCAA Division III Round of 16 three times.

Hisler has earned his USSF B License and NSCAA Advanced National Diploma.

Hisler’s wife Amy, a former soccer player herself, still holds the New Bern High School (N.C.) and Guilford College all-time goal scoring records and was inducted into the Guilford College Hall of Fame in 2014. The couple lives in Charlotte, and has one child, daughter Katherine, who was born in 2010.

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Sarah McHugh

McHugh starts her first season with the Wildcats in the Fall of 2023.

Sarah holds a US Soccer National Coaching D License and currently coaches with the North Carolina Olympic Development Program. She has been involved with competitive girls' teams across age groups, most recently with Charlotte Soccer Academy and previously with Savannah United.

She was a four-year starter at the University of Northern Iowa from 2012-2015. She earned Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman team accolades in 2012 and the President's Academic Excellence Award in 2016. She scored 3 goals and had 4 assists during her career as a defender for the Panthers.

She earned her bachelor's degree at UNI and graduated from the University Honors Program with distinction. She went on to earn her Master of Public Health from Indiana University.

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Dara Goldstein

Dara Goldstein grew up in Binghamton, NY, Pittsburgh, PA, and Atlanta, GA. During that time she played for local club teams, and through the Atlanta Silverbacks Player Development Program, was selected to be on the Southeast USL team. She played high school soccer at Carl Harrison High School in Kennesaw, GA where she received All-Conference accolades as a defender for the Hoyas.

Dara started all four years at the NCAA Division 1 Gardner-Webb University in the midfield and forward positions. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics with a minor in Secondary Education. After college, she taught high school math for 9 years in Cleveland County, Charlotte-Mecklenburg County, and Cabarrus County. She was also a High School Athletic Director for two of those years. Her coaching experience has been through various clubs, summer camps, high schools, and her passion drove her to be the owner/operator of Dynamic Game Soccer Training, an individual and small session soccer training program.

She continued to gain experience on the field by playing for the Carolina Rapids WPSL, PeacePassers, Charlotte Women's Soccer League, Coed Adult Leagues, and a new sport she was introduced to, Charlotte Gaelic Football.

Outside of coaching, she works in technology at Bank of America, spends time traveling and exploring with her wife, pampers her three dogs and parrot, and plays trombone in local groups.