Louisiana Tech head coach Jennifer Burns is quick to give credit to assistant coach Rich Stoneman when talking about the improvement of the Lady Techster soccer program during its two years of existence.

Stoneman, who returns for his third year as the lone member of Burns' staff, has already made a name for himself as a savvy recruiter and specialized trainer of goalkeepers.

Now, after two years at Tech, Stoneman has yet again proven his uncanny ability to recruit some of the most highly-touted athletes, along with helping develop a young group of goalkeepers.

Tech returned only two players from its inaugural roster, as 18 incoming freshmen and one sophomore transfer joined the Lady Techster program in 2005.

These newcomers arrived from several states, including Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Florida and West Virginia much to the role of Stoneman and his contacts, something Burns knew would pay dividends when she hired him.

Stoneman's tutelage of goalkeeper Jade Berbert in 2004 helped her rank second in the NCAA in saves per game.  With Berbert's departure prior to last season, Tech was left with two true freshmen in Chrissy Haisler and Nicole Didier.

An improved Techster defense prevented the duo from bearing the burden of facing as many shots on goal as Berbert did the previous season although Stoneman had an equal impact on their development.

Haisler and Didier combined to record six shutouts on the season, including one four-game stretch where Tech held its opponents scoreless.

Stoneman is well-equipped with impressive credentials including a National Soccer Coaches Associations of America Level II Goalkeeping Diploma, an Advanced National Diploma, a National A license from the United States Soccer Federation, an English F.A. Premier Badge and a NSCAA International Diploma.

In addition to his college and club coaching experience, Stoneman spent two weeks this past May serving as an intern with the United States Women's Soccer Team in Carson, Calif.

Not only was Stoneman able to observe the national coaching staff in work, but he was able to be involved in training sessions and training clinics with other renowned coaches.

Prior to coming to Louisiana Tech, Stoneman served as assistant coach at Eastern New Mexico University.  There, he actively oversaw all aspects of recruiting the first team at Eastern New Mexico who had 38 players arrive on campus in its inaugural season.

Before his stint at Eastern New Mexico, Stoneman spent a year coaching the Dallas Texans Club Team and the Olympic Development Teams.  In 2001-02, he joined the Baylor women's soccer program and furthermore broadened his experience.

At Baylor, Stoneman was in charge of scouting, video analysis, broadening the Bears' recruiting base and practice sessions.  Stoneman said he gained valuable coaching experience from former Baylor head coach Nick Cowell, who is one of the winningest coaches in NCAA soccer.

And while Baylor improved on the field, the Bears' excelled in the classroom also, as the team compiled a 3.42 grade point average.

In the summer of 2001, Stone became the coaching supervisor for the Falmouth Football Club in Portland, Maine, where he supervised 12 soccer instructors, oversaw six teams and was in charge of over 220 players.  This summer, Stoneman was the director of the Falmouth Club and assisted coaching a team in the W-League, which is a semi-pro league of the USL.

Furthering his experience on the collegiate level, Stoneman served as assistant coach at East Central University in Ada, Okla. during 2000-01.

In that season, the Lady Tigers reached postseason play for the first time in school history and reached the finals of the Lone Star Conference Tournament, capping off East Central's most successful season ever with 11 wins.

Stoneman's first collegiate coaching experience came at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1999-00, where he again played a vital role in a team's inaugural season.

However, before all the coaching positions held at different schools on the collegiate level, Stoneman began his career in high schools, clubs, summer camps and private lessons, and his playing experience paved the road to opportunity.

Stoneman played for Oklahoma Christian University from 1996-98 before joining the United States International Soccer League.  In 1997, he was invited to combines of Major League Soccer teams Dallas Burn and Kansas City Wizards.  he was on each team's roster for a season.

Stoneman's long list of playing and coaching experience has widened his recruiting base and greatly increased his contacts, but he admits his edge in recruiting high caliber players is not solely in his connections.  it is rooted in his honesty.

Along with his wide experience in recruiting, Stoneman also has experience in beginning collegiate soccer programs as he did at East Central and Southwestern Oklahoma State.