The ISU women’s soccer program took a big step toward continuing its rapid growth Wednesday when Stephanie Gabbert was named the new head coach of the Cyclones.

Gabbert arrives in Ames after building a successful program at Iowa from 1997-1999.

She took the Hawkeyes from an 8-11 campaign in 1997, the school’s first varsity season, to an impressive 13-7 mark last year.

Iowa finished 1999 ranked number 23 in the country and third in the Big Ten Conference with a 7-3 record, achievements that warranted Gabbert Big Ten coach of the year honors.

“Obviously we are thrilled that Stephanie is taking over the leadership of our program,” ISU athletic director Gene Smith said. “Her credentials are impeccable. For us to get the Big Ten Conference coach of the year says a lot about our program and our people.”

Gabbert will replace Cathy Klein, who left Iowa State to take over the head coaching position at Arizona after guiding the Cyclones to a 30-29-1 record the past three seasons.

Gabbert said she came to Iowa State to help continue building a winning program and for a chance to compete in the Big 12 conference.

“I believe that Iowa State has a great vision for a soccer program and I am looking forward to working with the team and the support staff to make that vision a reality,” Gabbert said. “The Big 12 conference is one of the best [conferences] in the country. I’ve been a part of the Big Ten for a long time and I am very excited to have a new challenge and work with a different conference.”

To go along with her accomplishments at Iowa, Gabbert has achieved great success as a player and assistant coach.

She graduated from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 1988, achieving first team All-American status as a player her senior year.

She went on to serve as an assistant coach at University of Missouri-St. Louis from 1989-1991 before joining the coaching staff at the University of Wisconsin in 1992.

At Wisconsin Gabbert helped guide the Badgers to the NCAA tournament in each of her four seasons there and to Big Ten titles in 1994 and 1996.

Gabbert has also been heavily involved in soccer development, serving the past seven years as a Region II Olympic Development Program staff coach.

According to Smith, Gabbert’s experience and knowledge of the midwest will pay off huge dividends for Iowa State.

“I think one of the best aspects of this hire is that Stephanie is already familiar with our state and this region of the country,” he said. “As an Olympic Development head coach in the Midwest Region, she has a good handle on just who the best players are in our part of the country.”