Phone: 419-448-3373
Email: fantinip@tiffin.edu

Paula Fantini enters her second year as Head Women's Soccer Coach at Tiffin University.

Fantini, a native of Brazil, was named GLIAC South Coach of the Year last year after leading the Dragons to a first place finish and NCAA postseason berth with a 12-6-2 overall record. This marks the second time in three years that the Lady Dragons have qualified for the NCAA National Tournament.

A former women's soccer star at Union College (KY), Paula Fantini joined the Lincoln Memorial coaching staff in 2007 after obtaining a double major in physical education and sports management, minors in health and general business and a master's in health and physical education.

While serving as assistant for both the men's and women's soccer programs at Lincoln Memorial, the teams both had winning records. The men's team finished second in the South Atlantic Conference last year with a 10-5-1 record and record of 21-12-3 during Fantini's tenure. The women's team went 18-14-4 overall during that same stretch. In 2007 both the men's and women's teams at LMU won the SAC regular season and tournament championships. The men's squad finished as NCAA National Runner-up, winning the Appalachian Region Championship while the women reached the Southeast Region Semifinals.

As a student-athlete, Fantini excelled on and off the field. She was a Dean's List honoree every semester at Union, and was a three-time Academic all-conference honoree, as well as a two-time All-American Scholar Athlete. She was named All-Conference and All-Region three times, and was named All-American twice. She ranks fourth in career points in Union's history.

Fantini has a strong coaching background in both club soccer (Impact USA Nike) and in college soccer (University of Campinas).

Melissa Bigg enters her first year assisting with the Dragons. A native of Canada, she comes to Tiffin University after working as a certified ACE personal trainer in a Cincinnati sports club. Before working she pursued her academic and soccer career at the University of Cincinnati, where she played all 65 games as a midfielder in her four years and was named captain in her senior season. She also has experience playing in the W-League between 2006 & 2009, and winning a Canadian Club National Championship in 2005. She graduated in June of 2010 with a Bachelor's of Science in Health Promotion Exercise and Fitness and is currently pursuing a Master's of Business in Sports Management.