Virginia Intermont College's Director of Athletics announces the hiring of Diana Niland as the Women's Soccer coach which will begin competition in the fall of 2009.
Niland is a native of Edgewater, MD, she attended the University of Evansville (IN) where she played soccer and helped lead her team to a Missouri Valley Conference title her senior year.(1996). Niland graduated in 1997 with a degree in Physical Education and earned a Masters in Health Promotion and Sports Psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia in 2005. Following her graduation from Evansville, Niland taught and coached at Bowling Green Independent School District in Bowling Green KY where she led the Bowling Green High School Purples to two Final Four state appearances, three regional championships and three district championships.

Following a year and a half stint at Arkansas State University as an assistant coach Niland took the position of head coach at NCAA Division II University of Missouri-Rolla where she remained for three years. She moved to the Head coach position at Troy University in Alabama for four years before leaving to pursue her lifelong dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail a 2,176-mile footpath extending from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Mt. Katahdin, Maine completing the journey successfully in 200 days, summiting Katahdin on October 3, 2008.

"I am excited to join the Virginia Intermont Athletic Department and look forward to establishing the program here. I believe that my background will be a great asset as we re-start the soccer programs at VI. I learned of the opening for this position while nearing the end of my thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, and so many things jumped out at me that were appealing. To be at a smaller, liberal arts school, to have the challenge of starting a new program, and to be in the heart of the beautiful Appalachian Mountains in such a fantastic city like Bristol, I couldn't have asked for a more perfect fit," stated Niland.

"Coach Niland combines high level quality coaching experience, a strong record of character development and a passion for academic excellence. We feel these attributes will lead ourwomen's soccer team in a very positive direction," stated Chris Holt.