Coming off impressive NCAA College Cup Elite Eight runs in 2007 and 2008, Head Coach Robbie Church will look to build on that success with a very talented group in 2009.  The Blue Devils return seven starters and once again welcome a stellar recruiting class to the mix.

Over the last six years, Church has led Duke to 77 victories, six NCAA Tournament appearances and brought in four recruiting classes ranked in the top eight nationally, including the third-best recruiting class in the nation in 2006.

The Blue Devils return seven of 11 starters and 15 letterwinners off last year's 15-6-3 group that advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight for the second straight year.  Duke scored 54 goals and registered a school record-tying 13 shutouts on the season.  In the ACC, Duke finished fifth with a 4-3-3 record. 

Duke's tandem of Elisabeth Redmond and KayAnne Gummersall teamed together to notch 27 goals, which was the most in school history for two players in a single season.

In 2007, Duke garnered a 10-6-7 overall and 3-3-4 ACC records.  The Blue Devils knocked off 21st-ranked South Carolina, 13th-ranked Georgia and Indiana on the road to advance to the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals before falling to 12th-ranked Notre Dame, 3-2, in South Bend, Ind.

For the second straight season in 2007, Duke registered eight one-goal contests and a total of seven ties, but put it all together when it counted in the NCAA Tournament.  The Blue Devils were ranked as high as 10th nationally during the season.  Junior Lorraine Quinn garnered All-America accolades and then went on to help the United States U-23 National Team claim the Nordic Cup title over the summer.

The 2006 season was one of close matches as well with the Blue Devils registering eight one-goal games and four ties.  One of the major highlights was knocking off third-ranked Florida State on senior day with a 3-1 victory and senior Rebecca Moros earning All-America accolades. 

In 2005, the Blue Devils were ranked as high as sixth in the nation and knocked off top-ranked North Carolina on its home field with a 2-1 victory in Chapel Hill.  The win was only the second in school history over the Tar Heels.  Senior defender Carolyn Ford went on to be selected as the ACC Defensive Player of the Year as Duke registered 11 shutouts. 

In 2004, the Blue Devils collected a 15-8 overall and 5-4 ACC mark.  Church led Duke to an NCAA Tournament Sweet sixteen appearance and the five league victories was the most since 1997.  For his efforts, Church was named NSCAA/adidas South Region Coach of the Year. 

Church, who replaced former head coach Bill Hempen in 2001, is only the second coach in Duke's 20-year history.  Over the past nine years, Church has brought in recruiting classes rated in the top 25 by Soccerbuzz.com - third in 2006, seventh in 2002, eighth in 2003 and 2007, 20th in 2004 and 22nd in 2008.  

Church earned his 100th career victory as a women's head coach against Florida International on Sept. 20, 2002, and collected his 200th career victory on Sept. 26, 2003, against Davidson.

In 2003, he guided the Blue Devils to 14 victories, which equaled the most wins for Duke since 1994, and to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.  Church did all of this with only three seniors, as 16 of 22 letterwinners were underclassmen.  The Blue Devils finished with a 4-3 record in the ACC, which tied for third place, and were ranked as high as sixth nationally.

Before arriving at Duke, Church compiled a 21-19-1 record in two seasons as head coach at Vanderbilt. He led the Commodores to the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Tournament semifinals in each of his two seasons. 

In 1994, Church became the first head coach at UNC Charlotte, a position he held until 1998. While at Charlotte, he guided the 49ers to a 66-30-10 mark in five seasons, including the school's first NCAA Tournament bid in 1998 and three Conference USA titles. 

Church coached men's college teams at Lynn University (1990), East Carolina (1982-84) and Belmont Abbey (1985-89), where he also served as associate athletic director.

Church began his career as a head coach at East Carolina from 1982-84. In 1984, he was a men's assistant coach at Duke under John Rennie. After a one-year stint with the Blue Devils, Church accepted the head coach and associate athletic director position at Belmont Abbey.

Over the next five years, he led the Crusaders to a 69-35-1 record, while graduating 90 percent of his players. Included in that stretch were two Carolinas Conference Championships and an NAIA National Tournament appearance in 1989.

Church moved on to the College of Boca Raton, now Lynn University, in 1990, leading the men's team to a 17-4-2 mark. In one season, he guided Boca Raton to the District 25 Championship and the NAIA national finals.

Throughout his 23 years as a college head coach, Church has amassed a record of 277-174-33. He was recognized as the Carolinas Conference and NAIA Coach of the Year in 1989, the NSCAA/adidas South Region Coach of the Year in 2004 and the Conference USA Coach of the Year in 1997. In addition, Church was the NAIA South Region Coach of the Year in 1988 and 1989. He was also tabbed the NAIA District 26 Coach of the Year in 1988 and NAIA District 25 Coach of the Year in 1990.

In 1991, Church left the college ranks to become the head men's and women's soccer coach at Charlotte Country Day School. In three seasons at the helm of the men's program, Church compiled a 40-22-9 record, including a state finals appearance in 1993. The women's program was equally successful during his two seasons as head coach, tallying a 24-7-3 mark and winning the 1992 state championship.

A four-year starter at Pfeiffer College, Church was his team's leading scorer and MVP as a senior. He was selected NAIA All-South Region, was an All-Conference performer, and was inducted into the school's Sports Hall of Fame in 1998. He graduated from Pfeiffer with a bachelor of arts degree in health and physical education in 1981. Church went on to earn his master's degree in health and physical education from the University of South Carolina in 1985.

Church and his wife, the former Linda Atkins, have two children, Ashley (22) and Kyle (20). Ashley is a 2008 graduate of UNC Wilmington and was a four-year letterwinner on the women's soccer team,  Kyle will be a senior at Charlotte and is a member of the men's basketball squad.  The Church family resides in Durham.