Nel Fettig Named Assistant Coach
8/20/2003 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Aug. 20, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - Nel Fettig, a standout for the WUSA's Carolina Courage, returns to Northwestern as an assistant coach for the 2003 season. The announcement was made recently by Wildcat head coach Jenny Haigh.
This will actually be Fettig's second tenure with the Wildcats. Previously she was an assistant coach under NU's first head coach, Marcia McDermott, in 1998. McDermott later coached Fettig with the Courage.
"We are very excited to have Nel join us," said Haigh. "Obviously she brings a wealth of knowledge as a player who has been successful at every level, and she is an energetic and passionate personality. She is familiar with Northwestern, and we are thrilled by her excitement to come back and join us again."
Fettig has been a mainstay in the Carolina backfield for the past two seasons. In 2002, she started 19 of 21 matches and logged the second-most minutes for the Founders Cup champions, with three assists. Fettig also played in the 2002 WUSA All-Star Game.
Fettig began her WUSA career in 2001 with the New York Power, leading the team in minutes played and scoring two goals. Prior to being a pioneer member of WUSA, Fettig captained the Raleigh Wings in the W-League from 1998-2000 and led them to two national championships. She was named W-League Defender of the Year three times.
Fettig, 27, played her college soccer at the University of North Carolina, where she was All-America from 1995-97 and won three NCAA titles. Fettig captained the Tar Heels as a senior, and as a junior in 1996 she was honored as the NCAA Tournament's Defensive MVP. Fettig also stood out in the classroom, where she earned Academic All-America honors and was on the ACC All-Academic Honor Roll. She also received an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.
In addition to her stint at NU, Fettig was an assistant coach at Tennessee in 1999. She is a veteran of the camp scene, as well, and worked for the Starlight Children's Foundation in 2002.
A former class valedictorian at Bishop Luers High School (Fort Wayne, Ind.), Fettig majored in psychology and exercise science at UNC. She also attended UNC Law School.
Fettig ended her WUSA season August 9, and joined the Wildcats just in time for preseason. NU will open up regular-season play next Friday, Aug. 29, at Kansas.
