Oregon parts way with soccer coach Tara Erickson after eight seasons

From the University of Oregon press release:

EUGENE, Ore. -- The University of Oregon will not renew the contract of women's soccer coach Tara Erickson, Director of Athletics Rob Mullens announced Nov. 4, 2012.

A national search will begin immediately for the new women's soccer coach at Oregon. The search committee will be chaired by Senior Associate Athletic Director/Senior Women's Administrator Lisa Peterson. Serving on the committee will be Lorraine Davis, Special Assistant to the Athletic Director, Eric Roedl, Executive Associate Athletic Director/CFO, Jennifer Jackson, Academic Advisor, Services for Student-Athletes, and Jennifer Reynolds, Professor of Law and member of the Intercollegiate Athletics Committee.

Erickson joined the Ducks in 2005, registering an overall won-loss record of 70-71-18 and a mark of 20-46-10 in Pac-10/12 play.

Erickson is a former All-Pac-10 student-athlete and the 2006 Pac-10 Coach of the Year. Previous to the University of Oregon, she was the head coach at Portland State for four seasons, compiling a record of 28-38-10, for a total record of 98-109-28 in her head coaching career.

The University of Oregon women's soccer team finished 8-10-2 in 2012, the fourth consecutive losing season for the Ducks.

Given the emphasis that the University has placed on non-revenue sports the last few seasons, this move is unsurprising. Sports such as volleyball, softball, and baseball have reached historic highs, and men's basketball and women's lacrosse have shown a positive trajectory. Only soccer and women's basketball have not shared in that prosperity. Its been made clear that four consecutive losing seasons in any sport is no longer acceptable in Eugene.