RICHMOND, VA. – Virginia Commonwealth University today announced the addition of Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak and Tim Sahaydak as co-head coaches of the VCU Rams women’s soccer program.

“Tiffany and Tim know how to win at the highest levels, from Tiffany’s Olympic Gold Medal to Tim’s experience in Major League Soccer," said VCU President Eugene P. Trani.  "They bring a unique experience which will benefit the student-athletes and the VCU Women’s Soccer program as a whole.”

The husband-and-wife duo takes over the reins of the women’s soccer program, which has established itself as a force in the Colonial Athletic Association and an up-and-coming power on the East Coast.

Roberts Sahaydak and Sahaydak both starred at the University of North Carolina and have sinced moved their games to the national and international level.

Roberts Sahaydak had a decorated career as a 10-year member of the United States Women’s National Team. She was a member of the first-ever gold medal-winning team at the 1996 Olympics and a member of the 1999 World Cup Championship team. She earned a second gold medal as a part of the 1998 Goodwill Games squad.

A member of two NCAA National Champions at UNC, Roberts Sahaydak was a four-time All-ACC selection and two-time All-American during her time in Chapel Hill. Her professional career began in 2001 as a founding player of the Women’s United Soccer Association. She started all 21 games for the Carolina Courage in the inaugural season and went on to captain the team over the next two seasons.

Sahaydak has asserted himself on the highest levels of American professional soccer for over eight years. He began his professional career in 1997 when he joined the Columbus Crew and became the youngest player to ever wear the don a Crew jersey. After playing in Columbus for two seasons, he spent time with the Miami Fusion, FC Dallas and local club, DC United.

Sahaydak also has a history with the US National Teams program as he was a member of the USA U-18 and U-20 National Teams, as well as a member of the 2000 Olympic Team player pool. He played two seasons at UNC-Chapel Hill, before leaving early to join the professional soccer ranks.

“It is truly an honor for us to be named co-head coaches of the women’s soccer program at Virginia Commonwealth University. We are excited to have the opportunity of joining both a university and an athletic department with a record of success and a relentless dedication to pursuing excellence,” Roberts Shayadak said. “We are absolutely convinced that it is a thrilling time to be a part of VCU athletics. We look forward to lending our experience and talents to building a winning tradition and a program that reflects the commitment and hard work of everyone involved.”

Roberts Sahaydak and Sahaydak take over the Rams, who finished 11-7 last season and finished third in the CAA in the regular season. The Black and Gold established itself as a threat over the past three years as they have made an NCAA appearance in two of the last three seasons and captured the program’s first-ever NCAA tournament victory in 2005 with a 3-1 victory over Clemson.

The tandem replaces former VCU Co-Head Coaches Denise Schilte-Brown and Chris Brown, who left to take over the reins of the University of South Florida women’s soccer program.