Head coach Michael Needham begins his second season with New Mexico State following a 9-9-1 campaign in the inaugural season. The Aggies also earned a WAC Tournament berth in their first year.
The University and Las Cruces community embraced NM State’s newest team in 2009, and the Aggies ranked No. 15 in the NCAA in average attendance. The Aggies averaged 1,129 fans for the seven home matches in Aggie Memorial Stadium.
In 2009, the Aggies played in eight exciting overtime matches, and four of those were double overtime contests. NM State recorded its first win with a 2-1 decision at Colorado State-Pueblo, Sept. 4, and then posted its first Division I victory at Air Force, 3-2, in overtime, Sept. 6.
NM State concluded non-conference action and earned its first tournament title, the Lamar Soccer Classic, after a pair of 2-1 wins over Lamar, Sept. 25, and Northwestern State, Sept. 27.
In their first WAC soccer match, the Aggies defeated Boise State, 1-0, in overtime, Oct. 2, in Las Cruces. NM State finished 4-3-1 in conference play and were the No. 5 seed in the WAC Tournament.
NM State accomplished many things in 2009, and Needham guided two Aggies to All-WAC honors. Goalkeeper Katie Graul was a first team selection while midfielder Jazmin Cardoso was a second team pick. Needham also had a pair of conference players of the week in his first season. Midfielder Lauren Cope earned the WAC Offensive Player of the Week, Oct. 5, while Graul was named the WAC Defensive Player of the Week, Oct. 12.
In addition to the success on the pitch, the Aggies were accomplished students in the classroom. Needham’s squad saw midfielder Marisa Moya became the first Academic All-WAC member and 11 Aggies earned Academic All-WAC Freshmen/Transfer honors in 2009.
Needham was hired, Oct. 30, 2008, to build a successful Aggie soccer program from scratch. He brought a wealth of knowledge to Las Cruces including nine years of colligate coaching experience, a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances and an impressive playing career.
Prior to NM State, Needham was in his second year as the first assistant coach at George Mason. He had a hand in every aspect of the program, including on-field direction, budget responsibilities, daily program operations and the student-athletes’ academic success. Needham was also the program’s recruiting coordinator and the 2009 Mason signing class was projected to be ranked in the Mid-Atlantic Region and the Colonial Athletic Association.
During his two-year stint at George Mason, Needham assisted the Patriots in their return to the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament after a two-year hiatus.
Needham joined the Mason staff after spending a two seasons as an assistant coach at UNLV, where he assisted the Rebels to a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances after winning the Mountain West Conference title both seasons.
At UNLV, Needham’s primary focus was working with and training the defensive unit. Through hard word and dedication, the 2005 squad only allowed 14 goals en route to a program-best 13 wins. Two Rebels were named all-region honorees, while an impressive eight players were named to the All-Mountain West Team.
Needham also made a solid impact in the recruiting department at UNLV as both recruiting classes were consistently ranked in the west region and in the top five throughout the Mountain West Conference, ranked by Soccer Buzz Magazine.
Preceding UNLV, Needham was an assistant for three seasons at Drury University in Springfield, Mo. He also spent two seasons as an assistant at Rhode Island and one year as a volunteer assistant at Connecticut College working with the men's soccer team.
Needham has extensive experience coaching outside the collegiate ranks. He worked with the Region IV Olympic Development Program as a staff coach and prior to that he was with the Nevada Olympic Development Program head coach.
He worked with the Nuesport football club in Las Vegas and spent time at the United Soccer Academy in Delray Beach, Fla., as the Director of Coaching.
In addition, he was Director of Player Development for Lake Country Soccer, Inc. in Springfield, Mo., the senior coach/supervisor at the Goal 4Rams Soccer Camp in Kingston, R.I., and a high school coach for boy's soccer in Boca Raton, Fla.
Needham has obtained his United States Soccer Federation National ?A' License, a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) 'Premier Diploma' in addition to an NSCAA- Advanced National Diploma with Distinction and an United States Soccer Federation National Youth Licensure.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science from Rhode Island and a master’s degree in physical education from Drury. Needham played professionally with the Municipal Goecechea, for the Costa Rican Premier League in San Jose, Costa Rica. At the collegiate level, Needham was a defender on the Rhode Island men’s soccer team, which was a NCAA top 25 program.
Michael and his wife, Christy, and daughter, Riley, reside in Las Cruces, N.M.
