Feb. 7, 2017 Women's soccer head coach Chris McLain announced the addition of Assistant Coach Daniel Clitnovici to the team's coaching staff. Clitnovici joins the Wildcats following just over a year coaching alongside McLain at the Ohio State University.
"It is with great privilege that I accept the position with Villanova University Athletics and the Women's Soccer Program," stated Clitnovici. "The tradition both in athletics and as an academic institution are of the highest standards. My family and I are excited to join the Nova-Nation family. I want to thank Athletic Director Mr. Mark Jackson and Senior Associate AD Lynn Tighe for entrusting me with this position and welcoming my family and me into the Wildcat Family, we are extremely grateful and honored."
Clitnovici brings more than 15 years of professional coaching experience to the main line. Most notably with the Major League Soccer outfit the Colorado Rapids and head coaching the Colorado Rapids Women from 2011 through 2014, and also Assistant Coach of the Western New York Flash from 2015 to 2016 where he was also the WNY Flash Academy Director of Coaching, Clitnovici was the interim head coach representing the WNY Flash during the 2016 NWSL Draft.
During 2014 season Clitnovici head coached W-League expansion side Colorado Pride Women to a Western Conference Playoff Final and he established a defense that did not concede a single goal at home. He was named 2014 W-League Coach of the Year. Clitnovici also led the Colorado Rapids' U-20 ladies team to the USL U-20 national championship in 2012. Crowning the Colorado Rapids Ladies as North American Champions.
During his years coaching professional soccer, he coached with and against some of the best players in the world, the likes of Carli Lloyd, Sydney Leroux, Abby Wambach, Hope Solo, Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, Whitney Engen just to name a few. He has also helped developed senior national team players including, USA's Lynn Williams, Abby Dahlkemper, Sam Mewis and Canada's Sabrina D'Angelo, Lindsey Agnew, and Nichelle Prince.
"I am very excited about joining the Wildcat Women's Soccer program and working with players both on and off the field to achieve the best results possible. I had the opportunity to work with Coach McLain previously at Ohio State and to directly see his high levels of professionalism and knowledge. I have been fortunate enough to have worked with some of the best coaches in the nation at all different levels and Chris falls into that category. No-one will work harder and no-one will treat his players better than coach McLain. Chris is a special coach, in my time alongside him I've witnessed him not only transform the OSU program on the field - raising the team to two back to back tournament appearances but also a sweet 16 birth in 2015; but also shape players and coaches lives off it in so many positive ways. Re-uniting with Chris is something that I'm very much looking forward to as he is a great Head Coach and person that inspires everyone around him. I know that Villanova Women's Soccer has many productive days ahead".
Last season at the Ohio State University, Clitnovici, played a key role in the successful season that the Buckeyes had. Helping lead them to the 2nd round of the NCAA Tournament in 2016, he also assisted in helping seniors Lindsey Agnew and Nichelle Prince move into their professional careers into the NWSL.
Head Coach McLain stated bout Clitnovici, "as a professional, as a colleague, and as good friends, I'm honored to have his family be a part of this community and this great organization. Our Women's Soccer program just inherited one of the top coaches in the country. Nothing makes me more excited to have his family join my family as we build this program side by side. If I had to choose anyone to help make this the destination for top shelf players where they can further their development, this is the guy you would choose."
Before getting in to coaching, Clitnovici spent over 10 years playing professional soccer, including time with Gold Coast United FC in Australia, Universitatea Craiova in Romania, Barnsley FC in England and Apollon Athinon in Greece. In his final professional season in 2008-09, Clitnovici played in Spain for Elche CF and CF Illicitano.
Coaching Experience - Elite Youth
Northern Colorado Soccer Club - Technical Director 2008-2009
Magic City Soccer Club - Technical Director 2010-2011
Northern Colorado Soccer Club - Director of Coaching 2012-2014
Colorado Rapids (MLS) U20 - Head Coach National Champions 2012
Western New York Flash (NWSL) ECNL Academy - Director of Coaching 2015-2016
U.S. Soccer Coaching Education Instructor 2010-Present
Coaching Experience - Professional
Assistant Coach Colorado Force (W-League) 2008-2011
Head Coach Colorado Rapids (W-League) 2011-2014
Head Coach Colorado Pride (W-League) 2014
Assistant Coach Western New York Flash (NWSL) - 2015-2016
Interim Head Coach Western New York Flash (NWSL) - 2016 NWSL Draft
Coaching Experience College
Rocky Mountain College Assistant Coach - 2010-2012
The Ohio State University Assistant Coach - 2016
Villanova University Assistant Coach - 2017-Present
Coaching Education
United Stated Soccer Federation Senior "A" License (Current)
United States Soccer Federation National Youth License
NSCAA Advanced National License
NSCAA Advanced National Goal Keeping License
NSCAA Director of Coaching License
Football Federation Australia Grass Roots Diploma
