PURCHASE, N.Y. – Manhattanville College announced the hiring of Matt Paton as its new head women’s soccer coach. Paton becomes the 10th head coach in the program’s 27-year history.

“It presents a great opportunity to go to a college where there is a strong commitment from the athletic department to the women’s soccer program,” Paton said.

Paton will take the reigns of a program that went 2-15-1 in 2004. The program returns five of its top eight scorers from last season return and will bring in 11 freshmen to add depth.

Manhattanville believes that Paton’s experience as a head coach at the Division III level, as well as coaching in powerhouse conferences like the Big 12, Big 10 and Western Athletic Conference will put the Valiants on the soccer map.

“I’m excited to have coach Paton lead our program in a new direction,” said Manhattanville Director of Athletics Keith Levinthal. “I have no doubt that our women’s soccer program will benefit from his experience, leadership and knowledge of the game.”

Paton arrives at Manhattanville after serving as an assistant coach for three seasons at the University of Nevada. He started coaching at Eastern Connecticut State University in 1991 as an assistant coach to both the men’s and women’s soccer programs.

After the 1993 season, he was promoted to head coach of the women’s soccer program. Paton served six years as head coach at Eastern Connecticut State and established himself as one of the program’s all-time winningest coaches.

Paton moved on to become an assistant women’s coach at the University of Colorado in 2000 and the following season joined the University of Iowa staff for a season.

As a member of Division II Keene State College soccer team, Paton received his Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management in 1991. He then went on to earn his Master’s in Sports Management at the University of Connecticut in 1993. He holds a National Soccer Coaches Association of America Advanced National Diploma, as well as, a United States Soccer Federation “B” License.