In the first big coaching move of the offseason, Kentucky has hired Charlotte's Jon Lipsitz as its new women's head coach.

In the last four seasons as the head coach at Charlotte, he guided the 49ers to a 58-23-4 (.706) record, including three straight Atlantic 10 women's titles (2006-08).

Each season, Charlotte increased its win total -- from 11 in 2005, to 13 in 2006, to 16 in 2007, to a school record 18 in 2008.

The 49ers capped their record-breaking season with an NCAA second-round appearance, defeating SEC champion Tennessee, 2-0, in the first round.

They finished the 2008 campaign ranked fifth nationally in scoring (3.00).

Before taking over the 49ers' program, Lipsitz spent four seasons (2001-04) as assistant coach for Ohio State. Prior to that, he spent three seasons at NCAA Division III Denison, where he had a 43-10-4 record in three seasons.

Lipsitz replaces Warren Lipka, who left following the Wildcats' 5-12-2 season.

Lipka, who started the women's soccer program in 1992, had a 182-139-30 record in his 17 seasons at UK.