Michael Jackson enters his 17th season as the head coach of the University of New Hampshire women’s soccer program. A 1977 graduate of the University of Maine-Presque Isle, Jackson was named the America East Coach of the Year in 2002 and 1998, and led a staff that garnered America East Coaching Staff of the Year honors in 2007.
    In 16 years, Jackson has compiled a 121-158-29 overall record, including a 40-26-8 record in conference play for a .595 winning percentage, coached five of the program’s top seven leading point scorers and the only All-America First Team selection – goalkeeper Maja Hansen – in UNH history. He has also had 13 America East All-Conference First Team honorees, as well as three players named to the North Atlantic Conference All-Conference First Team, a Goalkeeper of the Year award winner (Kristen Ouellette, 2002), three Striker of the Year recipients (Chiara Best, 2004 and Michelle Sheehan, 2007 and 2008) and a Midfielder of the Year honoree (Caitlin Whelan, 2007).
    Jackson, who has made 13 tournament appearances with the ‘Cats, led UNH to the title game in 1998 and 2007, as well as semifinal appearances in 1995, 1996, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. He also led the ‘Cats to America East tournament appearances in 2000, 2008, 2009 and 2010.
    Last season, Jackson and the Wildcats qualified for the tournament for the 10th straight season – the longest active streak in the conference. Despite playing without home field advantage against Albany in the quarterfinals, the ‘Cats managed to climb back within a goal on a tally by Monique Lamotte late in the 50th minute, but could not net the equalizer and fell by a 2-1 decision.
    In 2009, the Wildcats finished at 4-14-1 overall but 3-5 in conference play to earn a spot in the quarterfinals of the America East Tournament, where UNH gave rival Maine a scare before falling 2-1 in overtime.
    In 2008, Jackson steered the ‘Cats to a 6-11-1 overall record, but a 5-3-0 conference mark that earned UNH the No. 3 seed in the America East tournament, where it suffered a 1-0 loss to Binghamton in the quarterfinal round.
    Jackson put together what may have been his most impressive year while at the helm for the Wildcats in 2007. He led his team to an 11-7-2 regular season record, good for a .632 winning percentage. While the 11 victories tied the second highest win total in a single season, which he had already done twice (1998, 2004), the winning percentage was Jackson’s highest during his career in Durham. His 6-1-1 record in the conference garnered a share of the Wildcats’ second ever America East regular season title, which also gave them their first America East tournament No. 1 seed in program history. For the sixth consecutive year, the Wildcats made it as far as the semifinal round. Jackson surpassed that, however, guiding the ‘Cats to the championship game for the second time in school history –  the  first time as a No. 1 seed and host of the title game.
    UNH advanced to the semifinals of the America East Championships in 2006 and finished 6-11-1 overall with seven shutouts. Two years prior, Jackson led the Wildcats (11-8-2 overall) to their first America East regular-season title as UNH shared the crown with a 6-3-0 conference record. In 2002, Jackson guided UNH to a second-place finish in the conference with a 5-2-1 record. The Wildcats reached double digits in wins (10-7-1 overall) and tied the school record for shutouts by blanking the opposition nine times. Jackson was honored as the conference’s Coach of the Year in 1998 after leading the ‘Cats to a third seed in the league tournament with a 7-2-0 America East record. UNH advanced to the conference championship game and finished that season with an 11-9-0 mark.
    Before assuming the head coaching position at UNH, Jackson served as an assistant coach at the University of Connecticut from 1990-94. During his tenure with the Huskies, UConn qualified for the NCAA tournament five consecutive seasons. In his last season at UConn, the team advanced to the NCAA semifinals. They advanced to the championship game in 1990 and made quarterfinal appearances in 1991 and 1993. The Huskies produced seven NCAA Division I All-America selections, 14 All-New England and 12 All-Regional players, as well as one Academic All-American in Jackson’s five years of service.
    Prior to joining the UConn coaching staff, Jackson served as the girls varsity soccer coach, as well as special education teacher at East Hampton (Conn.) High School from 1986-89. He helped produce the school’s first-ever All-State player during his rookie season. In his second year at the helm, the team qualified for its first-ever tournament and produced another All-State selection.
    Jackson began his coaching career with the boys’ soccer program at Waterford (Conn.) High School (1981-85). He directed the team to the state tournament four times, including three conference championships. In 1982, his team advanced to the state final and generated the school’s first-ever All-America selection.
    Jackson has also been involved in the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association’s Olympic Development Program, as well as with the Under-15 through Under-19 State teams. He has also been involved in various soccer camps throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts. In addition to his coaching background, Jackson also possesses several years of playing experience. He was a member of the varsity soccer program at the University of Maine-Presque Isle and played for the Waterford Soccer Club, an amateur men’s team.
    Jackson received his Bachelor’s Degree in Behavioral Science from Maine-Presque Isle in 1977 and attained his Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Connecticut in 1986. As a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association, Jackson holds an Advanced National Diploma. He also earned a ‘B’ coaching license from the United States Soccer Federation. Jackson is a native of New London, Conn., and resides in Lee (N.H.) with his wife Cate.

    Kelly Martin enters her 17th season as an assistant coach with the University of New Hampshire women’s soccer program. A 1993 graduate of the University of Vermont, Martin has a wealth of coaching and playing experience. Before joining the Wildcat staff, Martin played for the Sheffield Hallam United Soccer Club (Sheffield, England) in the fall of 1994 and played semi-professionally with the Boston Renegades of the USISL-Women’s League from 1996-98. Martin was inducted into the UVM Athletic Hall of Fame in October 2006 in recognition of her excellence as a soccer and softball player for the Catamounts.
    A four-year standout on the University of Vermont’s varsity soccer program, Martin was a three-time All-New England Team (NEWISA) selection. As team captain in 1992 and 1993, Martin was selected to the NSCAA First Team twice. In addition, she was a two-time  First Team All-North Atlantic Conference (NAC) selection and played for the NEWISA Northeast Region Senior All-Star Team in 1993. Martin was also a member of UVM’s Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) championship team in 1989. She excelled in the classroom while at Vermont, where she was named to the school’s Dean’s List and to the NAC Academic Honor Roll.
    Martin, who holds an NSCAA National Diploma and a USSF ‘B’ coaching license, received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from UVM and completed her Master’s Degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Athletic Administration at UVM in March 2000. Martin is a native of Keene (N.H.) and currently resides with her family in Hampton (N.H.).

Carly Draper enters her third season as an assistant coach with the UNH women’s soccer program.

Draper, who works with the Wildcat goalkeepers, came to Durham after a two-year stint as a graduate assistant with Loyola (Md.) College, where she also worked with the goalkeepers and received a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership in May 2009.

Draper, a native of Ottawa, Ontario, helped guide the Greyhounds to a 10-6-4 record in 2008, including a 7-0-2 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference mark that clinched the regular season championship before Loyola fell in the tournament title game. Goalkeeper Brittany Henderson garnered MAAC All-Conference First Team honors with a 5-0-1 record to go along with three shutouts, a 0.40 goals-against average and an .864 save percentage in conference play.

Henderson was even better in 2007, recording eight of her nine wins via shutout while posting a 0.97 GAA and an .854 save percentage that was 28th best in the nation. She posted six shutouts, a 0.24 GAA and a .944 save percentage in conference play en route to being named MAAC Defensive Player of the Year, All-Conference First Team and Tournament MVP. The Greyhounds went 10-6-5, including 5-0-4 in the conference and captured the MAAC Championship, as well as an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament where they faced Virginia in the first round.

Draper was also an assistant coach on the Maryland ODP team, leading the 1993 girls to the regional semifinals in both 2008 and 2009. The team also toured Denmark and Sweden during March 2008.

Draper put together a successful career at St. Lawrence University where she was a four-year letterwinner. She started at goalkeeper for the Saints in all 66 games from 2003-06, earning All-Liberty League Honorable Mention after her junior and senior years.

In 2007, Draper played over 1,600 minutes in goal, posting a 1.24 GAA and an .800 save percentage. The Saints finished with a 9-7-1 record, closing the year with four straight victories.

Over the span of her career, Draper notched 23 shutouts, including six during her senior season, while helping the Saints to a 32-29-5 record.

During the spring of 2007, Draper was an intern coach for the St. Lawrence women's soccer program, assisting the head coach in practice planning and implementation and strength and conditioning.

Draper graduated from St. Lawrence in May 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry and Exercise Science. While at St. Lawrence, she was a recipient of the Andrew and Rosellen Welti Scholarship and earned the Bradley R. Evers Outstanding First-Year Student Award.

Cassie Guerra enters her first season as a volunteer assistant coach with the UNH soccer program.