Sept. 26, 2002

WACO, Texas - Baylor assistant women's soccer coach Rich Stoneman makes his first trip home with his new team as the Bears head to Oklahoma this weekend to play at Oklahoma and at Oklahoma State.

Stoneman, in his first season as an assistant coach with the Bears, has played an important part in Baylor's hot start to the season. The Bears have burst out of the gate with a 6-2 record, tying the team's best start under head coach Nick Cowell.

As Baylor begins Big 12 play this weekend, Stoneman can take at least some of the credit for the team's early success. Stoneman, a 2000 graduate of East Central University in Ada, Okla., has assisted with coaching goalkeepers as well as with video analysis and other training drills.

In addition to playing four years of soccer at East Central, Stoneman participated in MLS tryouts in 1997 as he was invited to combines for the Dallas Burn and Kansas City Wizards. He also spent three years playing in the United States International Soccer League with the Oklahoma City Slickers, Tulsa Roughnecks and Carolina Shamrocks.

Stoneman spent the 2000-01 season as assistant women's soccer coach at East Central as the team advanced to the conference tournament for the first time in team history. He also has extensive experience with club and high school soccer, and holds his National "C" Coaching License.

Baylor plays at Oklahoma Friday at 7:30 p.m. and at Oklahoma State Sunday at 1 p.m.