NEWARK, DE -- The University of Delaware men's soccer program has announced the addition of former Blue Hen standout Matt Haney (at right) to its staff as an assistant coach.

Haney, 23, starred in the Blue Hen backfield from 2003 through 2006, building an impressive resume on and off the field. A four-year starter, Haney scored four goals and dished out one assist for nine points in 70 career games.

The Newark native also made his mark in the classroom, where he was the consumate student-athlete. He earned first-team ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-America honors in 2005 and 2006 as well as a third-team selection as a sophomore in 2004. He was a three-time first-team ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA District 2 All-Academic pick and was twice named the Colonial Athletic Association's Scholar-Athlete of the Year for men's soccer.

Delaware head coach Ian Hennessy, who will begin his third season with the Hens in August, said he couldn't be happier with Haney's decision to join the staff.

"I think Matt has a tremendous future in coaching," said Hennessy, whose Blue Hens struggled to a 3-13-2 record in 2007 but hope to improve on that mark this fall. "Matt has many of the qualities of great teachers, and in the end a large part of coaching is teaching."

Hennessy said he admires Haney's commitment to excellence and hopes that a new generation of Blue Hens will follow his lead.

"In his time here at Delaware, (Matt) was one of the most decorated student-athletes in the history of the program. I expect that he will have an awful lot to offer future leaders in our locker room by way of example."

Haney graduated from Delaware in 2006 with a degree in biological sciences.

A 2003 graduate of St. Elizabeth High School in Wilmington, Haney was a three-time all-state selection and a four-time all-conference pick for the Vikings.

Haney is the second Blue Hen alum to join the staff in recent months. Adam Flanigan, an ex-teammate of Haney's who played at UD from 2001-04, was named director of men's soccer operations in March.