UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State men's soccer head coach Jeff Cook completed his staff with the hiring of Kate Deakins as the director of operations and Jyler Noviello as the volunteer assistant coach.
"I am extremely pleased to welcome Kate and Jyler to the Penn State men's soccer program," said second-year men's soccer coach Jeff Cook. "Kate brings great energy and commitment and I'm looking forward to her contributions as we grow our Nittany Lion soccer program. Jyler's addition for 2019 completes our coaching staff. He brings tremendous experience as a player and a coach, which I am confident will benefit our student-athletes."
Deakins joins Cook and the Nittany Lions from the University of Northern Iowa where she was the director of football operations. At UNI, Deakins was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the team, including team travel, recruitment, and serving as a liaison with other departments. She also worked as a tutor and graduate intern for UNI football's academics from 2016-18.
Deakins graduated from UNI in May 2017 with a bachelors in elementary education and in May 2019 with a master's degree in post-secondary education: student affairs.
Noviello comes to Happy Valley from West Chester University in West Chester, Pennsylvania, where he was the assistant men's soccer coach for three seasons. Noviello was part of the staff named the 2018 United Soccer Coaches Atlantic Region Coaching Staff of the Year after capturing its second-straight Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) regular-season title and advancing to the first national championship game in program history. Noviello also helped develop 16 PSAC All-Conference players, 12 United Soccer Coaches All-Atlantic Region players, and a PSAC Defensive Player of the year.
As a student-athlete at West Virginia from 2004-06, Noviello helped the Mountaineers to a Big East Championship title in 2006, along with back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and the highest national ranking in school history (No. 2). Post-college, Noviello spent time in the USL with Wilmington Hammerheads and Real Maryland FC, as well as overseas in New Zealand with Team Wellington.
Noviello graduated from West Virginia University in May 2008 with a degree in psychology.
The Nittany Lions open the 2019 campaign Friday, August 30, at 7 p.m. ET when they face Stanford within the friendly confines of Jeffrey Field.
