Todd Abbey is the interim girls' soccer coach for Pinecrest High School.

According to a school release, Abbey, a 1994 graduate of Pinecrest High School who played four years of soccer for the Patriots, was named to the post on Wednesday. He currently is the executive director of Sandhills Futbol Club, the county's newest soccer organization.

Abbey replaces longtime soccer coach Larry Martin, who was relieved of his coaching duties for both the boys' and girls' teams in November.

A new boys' coach has not been named.

"Through the Sandhills Futbol Club, I have had the opportunity to work with several of the girls from Pinecrest's soccer team, and when the position became available, I saw this as an opportunity to continue to work with them and their teammates and contribute to the success of the school's program," Abbey said. "My goal is to do what's best for the program, run a tight ship, and see them be successful."

In a phone interview Abbey said he was looking forward to helping the team.

"The individual talent is good throughout the program, Abbey said. "It's not a totally raw team. I think Larry (Martin) did an excellent job preparing them, so I am not working from ground zero."

He added: "Pinecrest High School soccer is held in high regard in North Carolina. It is a good program with a lot of support. It is a very solid program that will go forward."

Abbey added that he is impressed with the team's cohesiveness and camaraderie on and off the field.

The Patriot girls' soccer team begins practice Feb. 16.

"We are extremely pleased to have someone with Mr. Abbey's background and qualifications come into the program," said Pinecrest High Principal Joel County. "He is very well known in the local community, as well as in the much larger soccer community. He has coached very successfully at the club level with various age groups and brings strong credentials to Pinecrest's soccer program."

According to the release, there were many applicants for the position who were all reviewed by a committee of head coaches and administrators from the school. Phone interviews and/or personal interviews were conducted by the committee with several applicants as a part of the process.

"My goal has been to place an interim coach who would be as successful as possible and lead and develop the extremely talented young ladies we have on our soccer team," County said. "I know Mr. Abbey is the right person to achieve that goal." He added, "We will evaluate the program at the end of the season as we continue to seek ways to take it to the next level."

During his high school career Abbey received the school prestigious Tony Buckminster Award for outstanding soccer player. Abbey went on to play soccer for Westchester University in Westchester, Pa. He later transferred to Western Carolina University where he completed his degree in sports management.

Following college, Abbey worked full-time for the Carolina Hurricanes as youth and amateur soccer coordinator. He later worked for the Richmond Strikers Soccer Club in Richmond, Va., where he was administrator and director of the Jefferson Cup, the No. 3 ranked youth soccer program in the country for 10-18-year-old girls. After six and a half years in this position, he returned home to Moore County.

Abbey resides in Pinehurst with his wife, Tiffany, and two children, Jaidyn, 5, and Ayla, 2.

Contact Tom Embrey at 693-2477 or by e-mail at tembrey@thepilot.com.