Marty Beall, 33, is entering his fifth year as the head women's soccer coach at Francis Marion University. The 2007 season will hopefully be the FMU program's first year as a full-fledged member of NCAA Division I.

In the second year of moving from Division II to Division I, Beall directed the Patriots to an 11-5-3 record.  The Patriots were the fourth most improved team in NCAA Division I according to Somis Sports, after improving upon a 5-9-1 record in 2005. Only Navy (11) and the University of Denver (10) exceeded the Patriots' nine-win improvement in victories over Division I opponents.

Beall's four-year mark at FMU stands at 40-25-6.  Prior to the recent move, Francis Marion competed in the NCAA Division II Peach Belt Conference. 

The Francis Marion women’s soccer team earned a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Team Academic Award for the 2005-06, 2004-05, and 2003-04 school years.  In 2005-06, FMU ranked 30th among the nearly 600 schools that sponsor women’s soccer (all divisions) with a cumulative 3.42 team grade point average for the academic year.  Among NCAA Division I women’s programs, Francis Marion was tied for ninth with the University of Notre Dame. In 2004-05, FMU ranked 81st among all schools with a 3.35 GPA, while in 2003-04, the Patriots ranked 58th with a 3.39 GPA.

Beall guided the 2004 Patriots to a 13-4-0 record and the program's first Peach Belt Conference regular-season championship. For those accomplishments, the Damascus, Md., native earned PBC Coach of the Year honors. FMU lost a 3-2 decision to Clayton College & State University in the PBC Tournament semifinals, eliminating the squad's chance at receiving an NCAA Division II national tournament invitation.

In his initial season (2003), Beall directed FMU to an 11-7-1 record and a spot in the PBC Tournament semifinals.

Beall served as an assistant coach at FMU for four years prior to taking over the head coaching reigns. He succeeded former head coach Murray Hartzler, who established the women’s soccer program in 1995. Hartzler directed the Patriot women to a 109-35-4 all-time record. The Patriots have made a pair of NCAA Division II national tournament appearances - 1998 and 2000 - the latter of which came with Beall as assistant coach.

Prior to moving to South Carolina in 1999, Beall spent two seasons as women's assistant coach at the College of Notre Dame in Baltimore, Md.

Beall played two seasons at the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, where he captained the 1994 squad. He also played one season for a nationally ranked team at Montgomery (Junior) College in Rockville, Md.  He completed degree requirements for the B.S. degree in psychology at FMU.  He was an all-state performer as a senior at Damascus (Md.) High School, and played eight seasons with the Bethesda Soccer Club.

Beall has also coached at the youth league, high school, and club levels, and has served as head coach of the South Carolina Youth-17 Olympic Development Program (ODP) boys' squad. He is currently a head coach with the South Carolina girls' ODP staff. He holds the USSF "B" license and premier diplomas from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

During the 2002 season, with Beall handling a majority of the coaching duties, the Francis Marion women posted a 12-6-1 record.

In 12 seasons, the Patriot women own an all-time record of 149-60-9 mark, including an imposing 82-16-5 home record. FMU has had only one losing season and the Patriots have twice earned invitations to the NCAA Division II national tournament.

Kristi Eyler begins her first season as an assistant coach for the Francis Marion University women's soccer program.

Eyler returns to FMU where she was a member of the Patriot soccer team from 2001 to 2004. She most recently served as a sports marketing intern at Embry-Riddle University in Daytona Beach, Fla., where she helped organize the 2006 NAIA men’s soccer national championship tournament.

Her primary responsibilities at FMU include recruiting, on-field coaching, individual player workouts, pre- and post-season workouts, and helping in the area of academic support for team members.

During her playing career, she earned All-Peach Belt Conference honors and second-team NSCAA All-Southeast Region recognition in 2004. She served as a Patriot team captain in 2003 and 2004 and was selected to the PBC Presidential Honor Roll all four years. FMU compiled a 51-22-3 record with Eyler on the field, including winning the 2004 PBC regular-season crown and the PBC Tournament in 2001. In 68 career matches, the Abingdon, Md., native tallied 11 goals and 13 assists.

Upon completion of her playing career, she coached at The Brynes School, helping guide the Trojans to the 2005 state championship. After earning her degree in 2005, she worked at the Summit Sports Training Center in West Chester, Pa.

“Being familiar with my coaching style and approach, Kristi should easily transition into her new position,” said FMU head coach Marty Beall.  “I am impressed with her soccer knowledge, and I know she will be an important asset to our program. As a product of our program, she also possesses a sense of pride in our institution that is unique to an FMU graduate. I look forward to all she will add to Patriot soccer.”