Where Are They Now: Theresa Romagnolo
April 20, 2017 | Women's Soccer
Graduating from Washington in 2001, Theresa Wagner, now Theresa Romagnolo, was a four-time All-Pac-10 selection during her career on Montlake. The midfielder was instrumental in the Dawgs capturing their first conference title in 2000, and helped Washington reach No. 1 in the national rankings for the first time in program history as well.
Romagnolo remains in the record books across multiple categories, including second in school history for career points, tied for third in career goals scored, and third in career assists. Her senior campaign stands as one of the best in program history, recording the second-most assists in a single season with 12, including a record five game-winning assists. Her 32 points that season stand as the fourth-most in a single season at Washington, and her four goals scored against Oregon in 2000 are tied for the most in a single match.
After graduating from UW, Romagnolo began her coaching career as an assistant at San Diego, before moving on to Stanford, where she was an assistant from 2008-2010. She earned her first head coaching position at Dartmouth in 2010, where she eventually guided the team to a 13-4 record in 2012. On March 19th, 2014, Romagnolo was named head coach at Notre Dame where she has been ever since, and has led the Irish to two NCAA Championship appearances, coached two NWSL College Draft picks, and tutored 10 All-ACC selections in her three seasons.
Now a mother of two with her husband Alex Romagnolo, we caught up with the Husky alum to check in and ask about her time at UW.
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What was your most memorable moment as a Husky?
Winning the Pac-10 my senior year. I believe we are the first and only team to win the Pac-10 outside of California as the lone champion still to this day. It was an incredible group of players who fought for everything on the field together and always found a way to get it done. We played with a fierce competitive spirit and played for each other.
What is one tool you acquired or honed while at UW that is one you use on a regular basis today?
Pushing through adversity. Whether this was with a difficult session on the field/weight room, not feeling 100%, or just having an off day. Sometimes you just had to power through it and find a way to get it done. It meant being able to step up and be the best I could be that day because other people were counting on me and expected me to perform. This is something that has stayed with me through the rest of my life. I've coached soccer games with the flu, delivered my 2nd child andย 2 weeks laterย started my college preseason, and had numerous other challenges which I've put aside for the good of the team and my responsibilities. My experience at UW taught me how to push through these times and be selfless.
What is your current job?
Leprechaun.
What do you miss the most about UW?
Not the 6 a.m. list sessions that's for sure, still not a morning person! This is an easy one for me, game day. I loved everything about it. Butterflies, getting pumped up at home and in the locker room and visualizing the game. Walking to the game field as a team and walking out to our song and the whole atmosphere of playing under the lights. When "Who Let the Dawgs Out" came on my senior year after every goal we scored. I loved competing and when our team rose to challenges. I lived for game day.
If you had to relive your time at UW over again, what would you hope remained the same?
I loved training table. Good food already prepared, I'd eat that now if I could!
What would you do differently?
This may seem weird but I would wish for everyone to live in the dorms longer. I loved living on campus and the proximity to everyone and everything.
