Former Virginia All-American and 2009 U.S. World Cup alternate Nikki Lieb joined the California coaching staff in September of 2009. Lieb, a finalist for the 2006 Tewaaraton Trophy as a senior, led Virginia to the 2004 NCAA championship and earned three first-team All-American honors (2004-06) as a Cavalier.
Lieb is involved with player development and game management for Cal's midfielders and defenders. She also has significant recruiting responsibilities throughout the year.
A U.S. national team member in 2007 and 2008, Lieb was one of six alternates for the U.S. team that won the World Cup this past June in Prague. Her sister, Jessica Lieb, was also an alternate for the U.S. team.
The 2007 Virginia graduate had worked since '07 for the U.S. Golf Association as an assistant coordinator in vendor relations. Prior to that, Lieb, who has a masters degree of teaching in elementary education from UVa, taught in Charlottesville, Va., public schools for a year.
Lieb, who also played soccer for the Cavs, worked Virginia women's soccer and lacrosse camps in 2005-06 and in U.S. national team clinics in 2007-08. She led the Cavs' lacrosse team to Atlantic Coast Conference championships in 2004 and 2006 and was a captain of the '06 team. Lieb, who played in midfield and in defense at UVa, finished her college career with 136 draw controls (ranking second in school history at the time), 83 caused turnovers (7th in school history) and 189 ground balls (15th).
Just as former Cal assistant coach Julia Southard played against Sherry during their college days, Lieb played against Sherry when the latter starred at Princeton. Lieb's Virginia team beat Sherry's Princeton team for the NCAA championship in 2004, while Sherry's Tigers defeated Lieb's Cavaliers for the 2003 national title.
