Coaching Staff
Rachel Pitman
Associate Head Coach
Taylor Schram, Stacy Branca '94 Family Head Coach of Women's Soccer, announced the addition of Rachel Pitman as the program's newest associate head coach in August of 2024.
"We are excited to welcome Rachel to the Dartmouth Athletics community and to the Dartmouth Women's Soccer family," said Schram.
"Rachel's passion for the game and her ability to connect with and develop student-athletes at the highest level has helped her to emerge as one of the most talented coaches in the game. Rachel's expertise stems from an elite playing career where she had the opportunity to represent England in the U17 World Cup at the youth level in addition to competing professionally for four years both in the Champions and the Women's Super League. Rachel's defensive expertise, global recruiting network, and her commitment to holistic development will be invaluable in continuing to elevate Dartmouth Women's Soccer to new heights."
Born and raised in Bristol, England, Pitman comes to Hanover with a decorated coaching and player background. With over 13 years of experience, Pitman is ready to make a positive impact on the Big Green.
Her most recent coaching experience was at DePaul University, where she spent the last six years with the Blue Demons. Starting as a graduate assistant in 2018, Pitman worked up the ranks as a second assistant to first assistant and most recently as the associate head coach. Pitman has dedicated countless hours and effort to the Blue Demons and is ready to bring her knowledge to the Big Green.
At DePaul, she conducted statistical analysis and scouting reports to present to the team, while also creating practice plans and regularly leading field sessions. Pitman also handled administrative duties and led the team in goal-setting and culture-building. She also created a new out-of-possession principle for the Blue Demons to improve the defensive unit's goals allowed stat by 30% last season.
Additionally, Pitman recruited top prospective student-athletes who made All-Big East First Team and the Big East's leading goal scorer in 2022. She also aided in the development of professional players playing in Europe.
As a player, Pitman played for DePaul from 2011-14, leading DePaul to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in 2013 and 2014. In 2014, DePaul set a program record going 17-1-4 with a 20-match streak without a loss, the longest in the nation along with UCLA at the time. DePaul led her team to both the Big East regular-season and tournament titles while and was selected to the All-BIG EAST First Team and was NSCAA All-Northeast Region Second Team.
As a student-athlete, Pitman was named to the Capital One Academic All-America First Team and was a four-time Big East All-Academic Team selection. Competing on England's U-17 and U-23 national teams, Pitman scored five goals and helped lead the English to the U-17 World Cup Semifinals. She has also played with England's U-15 and U-17 teams. Later, she embarked on her professional career with the Sunderland Ladies AFC Club in Sunderland, England where she made four appearances in the Champions League.
Pitman holds a UEFA B license.
Dirk Vandeveer
Assistant Coach
Dirk Vandeveer joined the Dartmouth women's soccer program as an assistant coach in May 2024.
A native of Bad Kreuznach, Germany, Vandeveer comes to Dartmouth with over 18 years of experience spanning all levels of the sport. He has over nine years of experience in recruiting with Division I programs and over a decade of experience as an assistant camp director in Northern Virginia and Maryland. Vandeveer comes to The Woods poised to make significant contributions to the program.
His most recent coaching experience was at Boston College, spending the last two years as the assistant women’s soccer coach and recruiting coordinator. At BC he was responsible for recruiting competitive, top-tier, student-athletes to compete in the ACC. He aided the Eagles in player development of field players and goalkeepers while handling the program's daily operations.
Vandeveer also had a successful 13-year tenure at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, a member of the A10 Conference. From 2009 to 2022, he served as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the women’s soccer team and followed a short stint with the men’s team as the assistant coach. With the Patriots, he recruited 16 athletes who earned A10 postseason awards, made three appearances in the A10 Conference semifinals, and a quarterfinal appearance.
During his stay in Northern Virginia, he expanded his coaching experience with the local youth clubs and soccer camps. Additionally, Vandeveer served as the goalkeeper coach for the Washington Spirit, a professional soccer club in the NWSL, during the 2019 preseason.
In 2005, Vandeveer served as the assistant women’s soccer coach at Norwich University. He also served as the women’s lacrosse coach and recruiter for women’s soccer and worked as an admission representative in the admissions department. There, he recruited qualified cadets and civilian student-athletes while being responsible for training field players and goalkeepers.
Playing at Norwich University, the Military College of Vermont, Vandeveer had an impressive career contributing to an overall record of 60-18-2 and a 38-4-2 record in league play. A standout athlete, he led his team to three GNAC (Great Northeast Atlantic Conference) championship titles and three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a trip to the Sweet Sixteen. He was named to the All-New England Region team and earned a pair of First Team All-GNAC honors in addition to two second-team All-GNAC accolades. During his senior year, he was co-captain and honored as the team MVP.
After graduating, Vandeveer played professionally with Eintracht Bad Kreuznach, in Bad Kreuznach, Germany. Playing several years with the team as a goalkeeper.
Vandeveer holds a U.S. Soccer National “F” license and holds various NSCAA Regional, Advanced, Premier and National Diplomas.
