CHARLOTTE, N.C. (February 14, 2024) – Super League Carolina announced today that Erika Duncan will join Head Coach Philip Poole’s technical staff. First, she will take on the Head Coach position for the club’s pre-professional USL W League team. She will then transition to a full time Assistant Coach with Super League Carolina for the inaugural season kicking off August 2024.
“I am extremely excited for this opportunity, to work with talented and passionate people, and be a part of this new era for women’s soccer in the Carolinas,” Duncan shared. “I look forward to returning to the USL W League this year. It’s important to me to provide that platform and help young women advance their soccer careers in a positive and competitive environment. I am also thrilled to work and develop as a coach at the professional level alongside Coach Poole. I can’t wait for the Super League Carolina team to show younger players in the area that dreams of being a professional soccer player, or coach, can come true.”
“It was clear after meeting Erika and then getting to see her work that she would be an amazing fit for Super League Carolina,” Head Coach, Philip Poole explained. “At the conclusion of the USL W League season, I am excited that she will be stepping up to the first team on a full-time basis. To be able to promote and develop staff from within is a huge priority across the entire organization. Erika will be a positive force upon joining the coaching staff and someone who will be an asset to our players’ development.” Duncan brings two seasons of USL W League experience as the Assistant Coach for the Charlotte Independence women’s pre-professional team in 2022 and 2023. She also works with the Charlotte Independence Girls ECNL National Program.
“It’s fantastic to see Coach Poole’s staff start to take shape and provide an exceptional opportunity for Erika to advance her career,” stated Super League Carolina COO, Tim Schuldt. “We’re committed to the mission of the USL Super League; to provide more opportunity for women to play, coach and work in professional soccer. In the near future, we’ll be sharing more exciting news as we build a world class organization and open the doors of opportunity for many deserving players, technical staff and front office staff.”
Prior to her time in Charlotte, Duncan was an Assistant Coach with the Division I women’s soccer team at Marshall University. She simultaneously worked with the West Virginia Futbol Club from 2011-2021.
Duncan was a stellar student-athlete at Marshall University. Her collegiate honors include All-Conference USA second team (2009, 2010), Conference USA Player of the Week (2011), National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) all-region second team (2010), and a four-year Deans List Scholar (2007-2011). Duncan holds a pair of degrees: a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and a Master of Science in Sports Administration.
At Marshall, Duncan still holds records for most career goals (23), second with most game-winners (8), and tied for most consecutive matches with a goal (4). She has the third-most career points (54) and posted back-to-back campaigns with the second-most goals scored in a season (9 goals in 2008 and 2009).
A native of Easthaven, Scotland, Duncan’s playing career reached new heights as she played for Scotland’s U17’s and U19’s. She also competed in the European Championship and earned a spot on the Scotland Women’s National Team. Before venturing to the United States to play college soccer, Duncan played three seasons for Scottish professional side, Newburgh Ladies F.C., beginning in 2004.