WESTMINSTER, Md. - On Thursday, McDaniel College Director of Athletics Jeremy Shepherd announced that assistant women's soccer coach Michael Scott has been promoted to head coach.

Scott succeeds Sandy Lagana Bly who was promoted to Associate Athletics Director on March 22.

"I am happy to announce that Michael has moved into the head women's soccer coach position," said Shepherd. "He has had an excellent mentor serving as an assistant under Sandy the last seven years and has been a big part of the program's success during that time. He has worked hard to earn this opportunity and I look forward to the continued success of our women's soccer program under Michael's leadership."

Scott joined the women's soccer staff in 2017 and since then, has helped the team win over 70 percent of its games, posting a record of 81-29-14. He has been a part of five postseason appearances in six seasons, including three NCAA tournament appearances. The Green Terror won the 2021 Centennial Conference championship and back-to-back ECAC titles in 2018 and 2019 while posting a school record 18 wins in 2021.

Scott was a part of two Centennial Conference Coaching Staff of the Year honors in 2021 and 2023 as well as the Region V staff of the year this past fall as McDaniel advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship and was ranked at No. 25 in the final United Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll. The Green Terror also posted three wins against nationally ranked teams in No. 1 Messiah, No. 8 Johns Hopkins, and No. 17 Swarthmore.

"I would like to acknowledge Sandy, my biggest mentor and one of my closest friends, for her guidance over the years" said Scott. "I am honored to follow in her footsteps to lead this program. I am eternally grateful for all the opportunities that she and McDaniel have provided me."

A native of Fife, Scotland, Scott has coached with the Baltimore Celtic Soccer Club since 2020.

Scott was a four-year starter for the UMBC men's soccer team, helping the Retrievers win three-straight America East championships and lead them to an appearance in the semifinals of the 2014 College Cup. He served as team captain and earned All-America East Second Team honors as a senior. He currently ranks third in program history in games played with 80. He graduated cum laude from UMBC in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in accounting and finance.

Following graduation, Scott played for Christos FC in Baltimore and won a national championship in the United States Adult Soccer Association in 2016.

Scott received his Master of Science degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from McDaniel in 2019 and is currently finishing his Master of Education in Physical Education and Coaching from McDaniel.
 
"I've been able to learn from and work with one of the best in the business over the past seven years and am energized to start in this new role as the head coach and continue on with what Sandy has built," added Scott. "There is a fantastic foundation here and I am excited to see what we can achieve in the future."