CLAREMORE, Okla. - Rogers State Director of Athletics Ryan Erwin introduced Heather Cato as the new head women's soccer coach on Thursday.
"We are thrilled to announce Heather Cato as our women's soccer coach," Erwin said. "Coach Cato possesses the qualities needed to continue to build upon the foundation the RSU women's soccer program has enjoyed over the last seven years. She has had success as a player and a coach with a great understanding about what it means to be a student-athlete. Her emphasis on academic and athletic excellence made her a perfect fit for the Hillcat family. Her NCAA background will be instrumental as we continue our transition to become full members of NCAA Division II and the Heartland Conference."
Cato has served as the Head Women's Soccer Coach at Whitman College (Wash.) since August 2010 and becomes the second head coach over the RSU women's soccer program. She replaces Derek Larkin who has served at the helm of both the men's and women's soccer programs since the team's inception in 2007. Larkin, who compiled an 84-43-8 record and a 2007 Sooner Athletic Conference championship with the women's program, will continue his duties with the men's soccer program.
"I am extremely excited about the new relationships and challenges in front of me as well as becoming a part of the Hillcat family. It is difficult to leave such an absolutely incredible college and team here at Whitman. I must thank Athletics Director Ryan Erwin for this amazing opportunity at RSU, but also Athletics Director Dean Snider and athletic department at Whitman for the guidance and support these past four years. I appreciate and will miss the players who have come through the Whitman women's soccer program and given me such great memories. I look forward to creating new memories and moments with the RSU women's soccer team!"
While at Whitman, Cato tallied 30 wins in her four-year stint as the head coach, earning an 11-9 record during the 2013 season. She coached 17 All-Northwest Conference players and 37 Academic All-Norwest Conference recipients. During her stint the program averaged a 3.45 team grade point average.
Cato kicked off her coaching career as an assistant at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock from 2001 to 2003. During her two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock, she managed the team budget and scholarship fund, organized team practices and scouting reports, developed and implemented year-around strength and conditioning programs, and assisted with recruiting that helped boost the team's win total by eight victories from one season to the next.
Cato is a 2001 graduate of the University of Arkansas with a degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology. She was a four-year starter for the Razorbacks, playing both forward and outside midfielder. Cato led the Razorbacks in scoring as a senior and finished with 24 career goals. She was second on the school's all-time scoring list at the time of her graduation, and she still ranks sixth on the all-time Razorback scoring ladder. Arkansas won the Southeastern Conference's western division title in her first season and then lost the SEC championship game in the final seven seconds of double-overtime. The Razorbacks shared in a second divisional title during her senior season. Cato booted 13 of her career goals against SEC opponents and was her school's all-time leading scorer in conference games at the time of her graduation. She still ranks third in conference scoring at Arkansas. Cato obtained a master's degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Arkansas-Little Rock in 2003.
The Arkansas alum was a member of the Washington state and regional Olympic Development Program (ODP) from 1992 through 1996. She was a captain of the state squad for three years and she captained the Region IV team in 1996, when she was named to the under-20 ODP national team. As a national team member, she traveled to Florida for one training camp and then toured Europe with the team for a month.
Cato, who was born in Missouri and moved to Vancouver, Wash., when she was 10, is the daughter of Jim and Tina Trickey and David and Debbie Cato, all of whom live in Cape Girardeau, Mo. Siblings Jason Trickey and Christie Snyder also live Missouri.
