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Michele Canning New Role Announcement Graphic

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Women's Soccer Head Coach Begins New Role at NYU Athletics

Michele Canning Becomes Department's Inaugural Assistant AD for Strategic Initiatives and Student Development

Michele Canning, who served as the head coach of New York University's women's soccer team since 2011, has been hired as the Department of Athletics' first-ever Assistant Athletic Director for Strategic Initiatives and Student Development.

In her new position, Canning is responsible for the coordination, strategic planning initiatives, assessment of student outcomes, and student-athlete development for the Department of Athletics. She will be advising NYU's Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Director of Athletics, Stuart Robinson, as well as the Department's senior administrative team on recommendations that promote and ensure efficiency and effectiveness optimizing the use of available resources.

Canning will be serving as a liaison within offices of NYU's Division of Student Affairs and the University to ensure coordination and prioritization of activities that are necessary to move the department's strategic plan forward, managing student-athlete community service and engagement partnerships, supporting onboarding training for students and staff, and partnering with campus counterparts to promote GIDBEA (Global Inclusion, Diversity, Belonging, Equity, and Access) programming for students and staff.

"I am pleased that Michele has accepted our offer to move from the sidelines to this important role of providing how we strategically make the student experience at NYU at the center of what we do," Robinson said. "Her passion and commitment to the holistic development of students resonated with everyone with whom she met during the interview process. Having displayed these skills throughout her tenure as a coach, there is no doubt that she will be an excellent ambassador and partner for our students. I am excited to work with her as we continue to build transformative experiences for our students."

During Canning's tenure as head coach, the Violets posted an overall 121-66-26 record, making six postseason appearances and recording 10 winning seasons, including a 9-3-5 mark in her final 2022 campaign.

"I have worked with college student-athletes on a daily basis for over 20 years, and specifically at NYU for the last 12," Canning explained. "My understanding of the landscape at NYU as well as my willingness to listen to students' goals for their college careers and beyond, has prepared me to transition into this role. I've spent my entire coaching career dedicated to creating an athletics space centered on emphasizing transferable life skills and cultivating transformational relationships."

A 1998 magna cum laude graduate of Seton Hall University with Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and Women's Studies, Canning was a member of the Pirates' inaugural women's soccer team. She finished her four-year career tied for fifth in scoring (21 points) and goals (8), which included netting the program's first-ever goal in 1994.

After graduating, Canning served one season (1998-99) as an assistant coach at Florida Atlantic University. In 2008-09, she returned to FAU and earned a Master of Arts degree in Gender and Sexuality Studies. While there, Canning also taught undergraduate courses and served on the University's inaugural Women's Leadership Forum Committee and the Women's Studies Center Strategic Planning Committee.

"This new role will directly contribute to our overall department mission to foster our campus community, support students in their wellbeing and overall development, and empower student-athletes in their pursuit of competitive excellence," Canning continued. "It demonstrates our department's ongoing commitment to enhance the student-athlete experience and provide an environment where everyone can thrive."

Also a graduate of the NCAA Women's Coaches Academy class #41, Canning holds a professional diploma in Leading Spiritual Diversity in Higher Education from NYU's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.  

"I am immensely grateful for my time with the women's soccer program," Canning added. "I am so proud of the culture we built and everything the players and alums have accomplished on and off the field. Now, I look forward to expanding my contribution to the entire NYU Athletics community."

A native of Philadelphia, PA, Canning resides in Scarsdale, NY.