THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, January 13, 1995               TAG: 9501130638
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: C2   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY JULIE GOODRICH, STAFF WRITER 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   39 lines

ODU LOSES ITS WOMEN'S SOCCER COACH TO U.S. TEAM

Old Dominion University announced Thursday that women's soccer coach Linda Hamilton has resigned to devote more time to training with the U.S. national team.

``She basically felt like she couldn't do both,'' said ODU athletic director Dr. Jim Jarrett.

In a letter to the administration Hamilton, a three-time All-American at both N.C. State and North Carolina, said that she wanted to spend more time training with the national team in preparation for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Hamilton has been a member of the team since 1991 and is considered one of the nation's elite defenders.

``She has a strong desire to compete, and she didn't think it was fair to penalize her training or our soccer program,'' by splitting time between both, Jarrett said.

Hamilton coached the Lady Monarchs to a 4-12-1 record in their inaugural season. She could not be reached for comment.

According to ODU goalie Pam Dennis, Hamilton broke the news to the Lady Monarchs in a team meeting on Thursday.

``We took it pretty hard . . . we had no idea that she was resigning. I thought the meeting was going to be about the next season,'' Dennis said. ``The freshmen especially took it hard because Linda is probably one of the reasons they came to this school in the first place, and now she's leaving.

``It was a hard decision for her (Hamilton) because she doesn't want to leave us, but she didn't want to leave the national team either. But I know if I was in her position I'd make the same decision.''

A national search for a replacement will begin in the next month. by CNB