Sandy Burris is in her fourth season as the head women's soccer coach and sixth overall at South Carolina State University. Prior to her current role, she served the past five seasons as an assistant coach with the Bulldog women's soccer program. Burris joined the SC State staff after serving two seasons (2006-2007) as an assistant coach at Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, North Carolina. As an assistant at Belmont Abbey, Burris helped the Crusaders compile a 34-8-2 record, a conference regular season title and a tournament championship. Burris has been a crucial part in the turnaround of the womens soccer program at SC State. In addition to her on field duties, she is heavily involved in the recruiting process. In 2009 Burris spearheaded the recruiting efforts of 16 players, all true-freshmen, and all making an immediate contribution in their first year. Burris duties also include being responsible for academic monitoring and enhancement of the soccer program. Her efforts were duly noted as she aided the program to its first ever NSCAA Team Academic Award in 2010. The team also finished with the seventh highest grade point average amongst the 322 NCAA Division 1 womens soccer programs. In addition former Lady Bulldog standout, Brooke Ehinger, was named Scholar All Region, also in 2010, and another first for the Bulldog soccer program. In 1995 Burris served as the assistant coach with South Carolina Olympic Development (ODP) Team. She also worked in the same capacity with the 1992 South Carolina Olympic Development Team. A well-known soccer coach in Gaston County, NC, Burris was the head girls and assistant boys soccer coach at Highland Tech High School in Gastonia, NC where she was once named the Region 9 Coach of the Year. Burris high school coaching career also includes a three year stint as the head junior varsity coach and assistant varsity coach at Ashbrook High School in Gastonia, NC. During her tenure at Ashbrook, the team captured two conference titles and three state playoff berths. She has coached 10 years with the Gaston United Soccer Club and Charlotte United Soccer Club, where she was responsible for the technical training of male and female players of all ages. She has also served as a staff member at the Wake Forest, University of North Carolina Charlotte and Western Carolina soccer camps. A native of Gaston County, Burris holds the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) D and a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Advanced National Diploma.