Hemant Sharma

Volunteer Assistant Coach

Tennessee

Division 1

Hemant Sharma rejoined the Tennessee soccer coaching staff as a volunteer assistant coach in the spring of 2021. He previously served as a member of UT's coaching staff from 2004 to 2012 and served as the team's director of operations under current head coach Brian Pensky from 2012 to 2014.

In his previous stint with the Lady Vols, Sharma was a part of three SEC championship teams (2004, 05, 08) and three NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen appearances (2004, 2005, 2007). He also helped to coordinate the Lady Vol soccer team's involvement in TOPSOCCER, a program for disabled athletes.

Between his stints at UT, Sharma worked with goalkeepers for several other Tennessee colleges, including the Maryville College men's and women's soccer teams, the UT-Chattanooga women's soccer team, the Tennessee Wesleyan women's soccer team and the Carson-Newman men's and women's soccer teams. He was a part of the Maryville College coaching staff when the men's team won conference tournament titles in 2016 and 2018, and when the women's team captured a conference tournament crown in 2019. Each of those teams appeared in the NCAA Division III Tournament. Prior to arriving in Knoxville, Hemant worked with goalkeepers for the University of Colorado women's soccer team as a volunteer assistant coach.

Sharma has worked with goalkeepers for two semi-pro men's teams, the Boulder Rapids Reserves of the Premier Development League, and the Knoxville Force of the National Premier Soccer League.

Hemant also has served as Director of Goalkeeping for the Tennessee ODP program for boys and girls since 2012, and has been a member of the South Region girls ODP staff since 2017. 

He has been the Director of Goalkeeping for FC Alliance since 2009. During that time span, FC Alliance has produced more than 40 collegiate goalkeepers and sent two goalkeepers on to MLS academies.

During his playing career at Cornell University, the Short Hills, New Jersey, native earned All-Ivy League and All-Region honors, and played in the 1996 NCAA Tournament. In his senior year, he set a school record for shutouts in a season as his team finished ranked in the nation's top 25. Sharma proved equally adept in the classroom as he was a member of the Dean's List and the winner of the prestigious James E. Rice writing prize.

After college, Sharma was a draft pick of all three major professional indoor soccer leagues that existed in the U.S. in the late 1990s (NPSL, WISL, EISL). He was a first-round draft pick of the Buffalo Blizzard of the National Professional Soccer League and a fifth-round draft pick of the Arizona Thunder of the World Indoor Soccer League. He played five years of pro indoor soccer.

Sharma also held coaching positions at his alma mater, serving as an assistant coach for the Cornell women's team in 2001 and the men's team in 2000.

Hemant is a 1997 graduate of Cornell, with a bachelor of arts in English and a certificate in Financial Management. He received a PhD in Political Science from the University of Tennessee in the summer of 2009 and was the first recipient of the University of Tennessee's Otis Stephens Fellowship, granted for excellence in the study of American politics.

Sharma currently teaches in the University of Tennessee's Political Science Department and has co-authored three textbooks: An Introduction to the American Legal System, which was released by Wolters Kluwer publishers of New York; Administrative Law and Policy, published by Carolina Academic Press; and American Government: The Evolution of a Constitutional Republic, published by Great River Learning.

His published articles include one entitled "The Game is the Best Teacher," which appeared in the United Soccer Coaches' magazine Soccer Journal, and "Cant Play Here: The Decline of Pick-Up Soccer and Social Capital in the USA, published in a journal called Soccer and Society.

Rachael Collins

Volunteer Assistant Coach

Alabama

Division 1

Collins completed her collegiate soccer career at Pepperdine University. She now joins the coaching staff at University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. 

Brian Dunleavy

Assistant Coach

Mississippi State

Division 1

Brian Dunleavy was hired as an assistant coach on July 16, 2019 after spending six seasons as the head coach at Georgia Southern.
 
Dunleavy works primarily with States defenders. In his first season, MSU allowed just 12.5 shots per game, which ranks fourth in program history. The Bulldogs have now allowed fewer than 13.0 shots per game in three straight seasons and four of the last five years.
 
His defenders posted 12 points in 2019, including two players who scored their first career goals.
 
During his tenure at Georgia Southern, the Eagles won 41 matches, making him the second-winningest head coach in program history. Dunleavy led the Eagles to the Sun Belt Conference semifinals in 2014 and 2017 and was an assistant when GSU won the Southern Conference tournament in 2012.
 
His 2014 squad posted the programs best record and highest conference finish since 2002, going 11-6-2 and finishing third. That season, Dunleavy also guided the Eagles to their highest standing in the final RPI while two players earned first-team all-conference honors and one made the leagues second team.
 
As a head coach, Dunleavy oversaw teams that earned five all-conference selections and four NCSAA/United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Awards. Before he was promoted in 2013, he spent two seasons as an assistant for the Eagles.
 
In that time, the Eagles made their first conference tournament appearance since 2007, won their first conference title, made their first NCAA Tournament appearance and posted their first winning season since 2002. While serving as an assistant, Dunleavy also worked as a staff coach with the Georgia Olympic Development Program.
 
Dunleavy spent two years coaching at Division II Saint Leo University in Dade City, Florida where he worked with the mens soccer program. While at Saint Leo, the Lions, posted a 15-15 overall record. Dunleavy was responsible for opponent scouting and the teams conditioning program.
 
Before his time with Saint Leo, Dunleavy was the head mens soccer coach at the College of Mount Saint Vincent, an NCAA Division III institution in the Bronx, New York, where he spent a year directing the Dolphins. 
 
Dunleavy enjoyed a four-year playing career at Hofstra University (1999-02). Following his playing career, he joined the staff at his alma mater as an assistant coach in 2003. He helped the program win back-to-back Colonial Athletic Association Championships which garnered the team NCAA Tournament appearances in 2004 and 2005.
 
He holds an NSCAA National Coaching Diploma and graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in English and American Literature from Hofstra University.

Jim Chapman

Assistant Coach

Kentucky

Division 1

Kentucky womens soccer head coach Ian Carry announced on Wednesday, Aug. 8 that he has completed his 2018 coaching staff with the addition of Jim Chapman as a full-time assistant coach. When making this hire, I felt it was important to take my time and evaluate all the options available, Carry said. This had to be a marquee hire not only for the continued ascension of the program, but also to enhance the culture and development of the young women we facilitate on and off the field. Knowing Jim almost 20 years, working alongside him which included the success at Kilmarnock FC in Scotland and having him as a mentor as I went through my coaching education pathway I knew he was the missing piece of our staff. Having the opportunity to bring him in and watching his interaction with the team in preseason camp it is evident that he is the perfect fit for Kentucky womens soccer.
 
Chapman, a native of Airdrie, Scotland, joins the Wildcats after successful coaching tenures in the Scottish Premier League. Chapman has managed Kilmarnock, Albion Rovers, Dumbarton and Annan, winning over 125 games in charge of those clubs at the Premier League level.
He helped lead Kilmarnock to the Premier League twice, a Scottish Womens Cup in 2002, and a First Division Cup title in 2002 as well. While with Dumbarton, Chapman guided the team to a Scottish third division title in 2008-09 and the Stirlingshire Cup in 2010.
The Scotsman also has an extensive playing career, having played in over 130 matches in his time with Albion Rovers and Dumbarton as a player. He scored 35 goals in 134 appearances, including 31 in his time with Albion.

John Roman

Assistant Coach

Florida

Division 1

John Roman is in his sixth year as Florida's goalkeeper coach and will coach the Gators quad of goalkeepers.

Before joining the Gators in January of 2016, Roman enrolled in the University of Florida's graduate school to study performance psychology. He received his Masters degree in 2017, and is graduating in 2021 with a doctorate through the University of Florida's Performance Psychology Laboratory.

Roman coached the goalkeepers at Fairfax High School in Northern Virginia before relocating to Florida. During that time, he also worked as a research analyst specializing in big data and analytics in the Washington, D.C. area.
 
In addition to his studies and coaching responsibilities, Roman is Vice President of Research and Analytics for Mission6Zero, a company founded by United States Special Forces soldiers that improves business executive and professional athlete performance during stress.

John Roman is also a proud Elon Phoenix, avid TK Little, and connoisseur of chocolate cake.

Nate Lie

Head Coach

Xavier (OH)

Division 1

Nate Lie (pronounced LEE) enters his first season as Head Coach of Xavier Women's soccer.

Lie joined the program after a 4 year stint at the University of Cincinnati that culminated in being named Associate Head Coach for the 2016 Season. In his first season with UC, he aided the Bearcats in posting an 8-11-1 overall record and 4-4-1 in league play. It marked only the fourth time in the last 10 seasons that UC accumulated eight of more wins and only the second time in 10 years that they had four or more conference wins.Cincinnati, who was picked to finish ninth in the AAC, surprised the league by finishing sixth, despite being tied for third entering their final conference match.

Jeff Freeman

Assistant Coach

Illinois

Division 1

Freeman just finished his twelfth season overall with the Fighting Illini and sixth as the soccer programs Associate Head Coach in 2022.  In 2019 Freeman was also named the program's recruiting coordinator.  Illinois has reached at least the second round of the NCAA Tournament in three of the years he has been on staff, highlighted by a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2013. Freeman helped to coach standout Vanessa DiBernardo earn a pair of All-America honors and saw Jannelle Flaws lead the country and break the school record for goals scored.
The Illini have turned in two of the top four single-season goal totals in school history during Freemans tenure in Champaign. The Orange and Blue netted 54 goals in 2013 and 53 goals in 2011, which rank third and fourth, respectively, on the all-time list. UI boasts an overall record of 71-23-9 over the past six seasons with four NCAA Tournament appearances, a Big Ten Tournament title in 2011 and a Big Ten Tournament runner-up finish in 2012.
In 2014, Illinois finished with a 10-8-2 record on the season. With Freemans assistance, Illini redshirt senior Jannelle Flaws was named Disney Soccer/NSCAA National Player of the Week, the first Illini to ever earn the recognition. Flaws continued on to be named the unanimous Big Ten Forward of the year for the second-straight season. She led the Big Ten and tied for 12th in the NCAA with 17 goals, also being tabbed a third-team NSCAA All-American.
In 2013, Freeman helped guide the Illini to their fourth trip to the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen in school history, as they finished 11-9-3 overall. He coached Big Ten Forward of the Year Jannelle Flaws to a school-record 23 goals, which was tied for the most in the NCAA. Vanessa DiBernardo, who became Illinois highest drafted player in school history following the season, completed her decorated career No. 3 on the all-time list with 43 goals, with Freeman coaching her during three of four seasons.
In 2012, Freeman served as the interim head coach for the non-conference portion of the schedule while Rayfield was coaching with U.S. Soccers U-20 National Team at the World Cup. Freeman helped coach the Illini to the NCAA Tournament where they advanced to the second round after knocking off neighbor-state rival Missouri. Freeman also helped guide the Illini to their fifth Big Ten Tournament title game. In addition, Freeman took the reigns of the Illini program for the first seven games of the season against one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country. Illinois finished 10-9-4 on the year.
In 2011, Freeman was integral in the process of implementing the formation changes that led the Orange and Blue to a 17-5-2 overall record, the most wins in a single season in school history and a Big Ten Tournament title victory over No. 11 Penn State. Freeman worked with both the offensive and defensive units throughout the season, also serving as a key contributor to the Illinois recruiting efforts while performing additional administrative and travel-related duties.
Freeman brought a wealth of experience and tactical expertise to Champaign, Illinois, after serving as a member of the University of Miami (Fla.) womens soccer staff from 2004-10, including the final three years as the associate head coach. He played a prominent role in Miami earning conference and national recognition with top-25 rankings and back-to-back appearances in the 2007-08 NCAA Tournaments.
Freeman joined the Hurricanes staff after serving as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Missouri State, for four years. The Bears goalkeeping units earned Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Defensive Player of the Year and conference tournament MVP honors in addition to weekly MVC defensive accolades under Freemans tutelage, while Missouri State won the MVC crown and earned its first NCAA Tournament appearance with Freemans guidance.
As a student-athlete at Missouri State, Freeman earned academic all-conference recognition as a goalkeeper with the Bears and was a member of the 1997 squad that made the programs first NCAA Tournament appearance after earning a top-10 national ranking and the MVC regular season title.
Freeman, who earned a bachelors and masters in education from Missouri State, is accredited as a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) `A Licensed Coach and holds a NSCAA Advanced National Diploma. He has served as a clinician at the USC (NSCAA) Conventions from 2014-2019.

Andre Reis

Volunteer Assistant Coach

Brown

Division 1

Andre Reis, enters his fourth season with the Brown University womens soccer program in 2021-22 as a volunteer assistant coach with an emphasis on goalkeeping.
 
Reis a key part of the 2019 United Soccer Coaches East Region Staff of the Year helped guide the Bears to a historic season in 2019 in which the team earned its first Ivy League title and NCAA appearance since 1994. Brown set program records for wins in a season (14), home wins in a season (11), and shutouts in a season (13).
 
In 2019, the Bears posted an overall record of 14-2-3 alongside an undefeated 6-0-1 mark in Ivy League play, finishing the year unbeaten in conference play for the first time since 1994. Brown notched an 11-0-1 mark at home, including an 11-0-0 record during the regular season. The Bears advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament after topping Monmouth in a penalty kick shootout, 4-1.
 
The Bears distinguished themselves as one of the top defensive teams in the country, ranking second in the NCAA in goals allowed (eight), third in save percentage (.890), and fourth in GAA (0.40). Over the course of 2019, Brown tallied six All-Ivy selections (including the Ivy League Rookie of the Year), five All-Region choices, 10 Ivy League weekly awards, four selections to Top Drawer Soccers Team of the Week, four All-New England picks, two Scholar All-Americans, the ECAC Rookie of the Year, and the teams first All-American since 2000. In the final national rankings, Brown stood at No. 11 in the Top Drawer Soccer poll, No. 13 in the NCAA RPI, and No. 23 in the United Soccer Coaches poll. Browns 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19.
 
During his first year with the team in 2018, the Bears concluded the season with 29 goals, marking their highest goal total since netting 37 goals in 2006. He coached five All-Ivy selections, including First Team All-Ivy honoree Abby Carchio 20 and Ivy League Rookie of the Year Rebecca Rosen 22. Goalkeeper Christine Etzel 19 earned a spot in the NEWISA Senior Bowl.
 
A native of Fall River, Mass., Reis played at Durfee High School and at the collegiate level at Massasoit Community College and UMass Dartmouth. He then trained with SC Paiense in Portugal and currently plays with Saint George Futsal in the National League of Professional Futsal.
 
Reis has a USSF C license and completed his Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma from United Soccer Coaches in 2019.

Christina Sarokon

Assistant Coach

Kennesaw State

Division 1

Sarokon has helped the Kennesaw State Owls to 2 final games in the ASUN Championship tournament in the spring of 2021 (due to Covid-19) and fall of 2021. In Fall of 2022, Sarokon lead freshman goalkeeper Allanah Blye to an ASUN All Freshmen team honor, with Blye being the only goalkeeper mentioned in the conference. Along with Blyes honor, Sarokon helped two others to ASUN All-Conference honors including Kendall Higgs and Macie Rainwater to ASUN 3rd Team All-Conference. She also helped lead the Owls to a quarterfinal match in the 2022 ASUN Championship.


Sarokon was the former assistant coach at Gardner-Webb University, where she helped the Runnin' Bulldogs reach the 2019 Big South Championship final. She was instrumental in four GWU players being named to the all-state team by the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA), five players to the Big South Conference team, and three players to the Big South All-Conference Tournament team after the Runnin' Bulldogs finished with a 10-11-1 record and a 7-3 record in Big South play.

In 2018, Sarokon was instrumental in helping senior goalkeeper Keely Brown record four additional clean sheets and extend the career record to 20. Brown made 85 stops on the year and worked exclusively with Sarokon. Gardner-Webb finished Sarokon's second year as an assistant 12-5-4 overall and was the runner-up in the Big South tournament. Seven players earned all-conference honors, led by Brown and Stina Kleepe who were first team all-Big South.

In 2017, she guided junior goalkeeper Keely Brown to the career shutout record with 16 career clean sheets. Additionally, Sarokon also helped four Runnin Bulldogs to all-Big South honors and a conference quarterfinal tournament appearance.

Prior to Gardner-Webb University, Sarokon was an assistant coach at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, La. where she aided in the Cowgirls' run to the 2016 Southland Conference semifinal.

Sarokon is a former US Youth Soccer East Region Olympic Development Program U13-U17 girls assistant and goalkeeper staff coach. She was also a U12 staff coach with Louisiana ODP, U15 girls assistant and goalkeeper coach with North Carolina ODP, and worked as an assistant and goalkeeper coach for both boys and girls for New York State West ODP. She is currently the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program Midwest administrator for boys and girls, in which she assists in planning and executing events, camps, training venues, and ID camps for all age groups.
 
Sarokon is an active member of the United Soccer Coaches Womens Advocacy Group. In 2017, Sarokon was selected as the United Soccer Coaches Charlotte Moran Memorial Scholarship award recipient by the Charlotte Moran Scholarship Committee. We had many high-quality applicants for the Charlotte Moran Memorial Scholarship," said Kelly Grant, Scholarship Committee Chair. "Within the group, Christina Sarokon stood out as someone with a passion for coaching and who wants to make the game even better for young females. The committee felt that Christina is exactly who Charlotte intended this scholarship to be for a coach or administrator in the beginning of their career who is committed to staying involved with the womens game for the long term.
 
The North Tonawanda, N.Y. native was a four-year letter winner at Saint Bonaventure University from 2012-2015, where she made 33 starts and finished her collegiate career ranked fifth in school history in saves (186), fifth in career goals against average (1.36), and third in single-season shutouts (5).  She was named to the Atlantic 10 Conference Commissioners honor roll in each of her four years with the Bonnies.
 
Prior to her collegiate career, Sarokon was chosen as a member of the United States U14 Girls National Team player pool and played in the Nike Friendlies at the Home Depot Center with the U14 Girls National Team in 2008. She was also selected to two US National ODP team training camps in 2009 and 2010. She was a member of the Region 1 ODP team from 2006-09 and played internationally with the Region 1 ODP team in Costa Rica in 2009. Sarokon played professionally as a member of the Womens Premier Soccer League Team Empire Revolution in 2014.
 
Sarokon earned a Bachelor of Science in Sports Studies and Human Development from Saint Bonaventure University in 2016. She holds the NSCAA Goalkeeper Levels I, II, and III Diplomas, NSCAA Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma, United Soccer Coaches (NSCAA) Advanced National Diploma, United Soccer Coaches (NSCAA) Premier Diploma, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF)  National "D" License, and the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) National C License.

Robert Gardner

Assistant Soccer Coach

Jacksonville State (AL)

Division 1

Robert Gardner begins his second season at Jacksonville State after being hired on staff in June of 2019.

The 2019 club was veteran-laden with a large senior class and a season that was decimated by injuries. The injuries allowed young players to step in and gain valuable playing time.  Freshman Cynthia Bagozzi  finished her first season as a Gamecock as the top scorer on the club with seven goals, including four against OVC competition.  The forward from Orlando, Florida also led Jax State in total shots with 38 on the season.  She accumulated 15 points combined with her goals-scored and assist.  Bagozzi played in all 18 matches and logged 1,396 minutes of action. JSU claimed the 2020 Ohio Valley Conference Sportsmanship award for soccer.

Gardner brought 16 years of coach experience to JSU, including four seasons at Jackson Academy in Jackson, Mississippi.  The Jackson Academy graduate guided his alma mater to three consecutive Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Division I state titles from 2016 to 2018.  Gardner, who also coached the boys program, led the Raiders to appearances in the state championship match in 2017 and 2018.  As a varsity coach, he compiled a 121-56-7 record.  His record includes three seasons as varsity boys and girls soccer coach at Starkville Academy in Starkville, Mississippi.

The coaching bond between Gardner and Macdonald was established while Macdonald was the head coach at Mississippi State.  Gardner was the director of coaching for the Starkville Soccer Association from 2010-2012.  He expanded his professional experience with one season with the Mississippi Blues SC in 2018, which was a member of the Gulf Coast Premier League.  He also gained coaching experience on the prep level as an assistant coach at Center Hill High School in Olive Branch Mississippi.

Gardner holds a USSF National D license from the USSF along with a Class C license from the USSF, which he earned in February of 2018.

As a player at JA, he led the Raiders to three Mississippi Final Four appearances in 2001, 2002 and 2003.  Gardner was named a First Team All-State selection in 2003 and participated in the 2003 Mississippi High School Al-Star Game where he earned most valuable player honors in the contest.

Gardner graduated from Mississippi State University with his bachelors in 2008 and his masters in 2013. Gardner and his wife Kayla, have one child, Louie.

Martyn Blankley

Assistant Coach

Tennessee-Chattanooga

Division 1

Martyn Blankley was named the assistant coach of the women's soccer team in August 2015 and in his three seasons at Chattanooga, the Mocs have improved dramatically.

UTC has reached back-to-back Southern Conference for the first time in school history. It was UTC's first quarterfinal appearance in the league tournament since 2005. UTC finished tied for fifth in 2016 and sixth in 2017, its two best finishes since 2005.

In his time with Chattanooga, the Mocs had its first-ever SoCon Freshman of the Year, an all-conference performer and two SoCon All-Freshman Team selections.

The Mocs have excelled in the classroom in his three seasons. In the 2017 spring semester, the Mocs set a department record with 11 student-athletes earning a 4.0 grade point average. That followed the Fall 2016 semester when the Mocs posted their highest GPA on record at 3.65 and had 10 with a 4.0. In the Fall of 2017, the Mocs had their second highest GPA at 3.59 and had seven record a 4.0.
 
Three times the soccer team has had more than 20 make the Deans List and more than 20 have earned a spot on the Athletics Directors Honor Roll in each semester since McKinneys arrival. Sixteen student-athletes have earned the Southern Conference Commissioners Medal for Academics in his first two years for posting a GPA of 3.8 or higher over the course of the entire year. Twenty three have been named to the Fall Academic All-Southern Conference Team and 51 to the Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.

Before coming to UTC Blankley spent seven years as the mens varsity assistant coach and head coach of the JV team at Tennessee Wesleyan College in Athens, Tenn. During his time coaching at TWC he helped the program to three AAC conference titles, the programs first NAIA National Tournament appearance since 2002, and at their highest a national ranking of 24th.

Over the course of his seven years in Athens, the native of Chesterfield, England coached 15 players who were selected as first-team all-conference, as well as two student-athletes who earned AAC Freshman of the Year honors. TWCs overall record was 46-22-8 with a winning percentage of 66%, and their Conference record was 24-4-3 which is a winning percentage of 82%. A number of his former players have represented teams in the Premier Development League (PDL) and the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL), and some are now playing professionally around the world.
 
Blankley attended TWC from 1999-2004 and played four years of soccer and basketball for the Bulldogs. As a member of the soccer team, he was named as an All-Conference player and was a member of the 2002 soccer team that won the conference and regional titles and played at the NAIA National Tournament.  He graduated from Tennessee Wesleyan with a Bachelors Degree in Exercise Science with a minor in Business.

Following graduation, he returned to England to teach and coach West Notts College Youth Soccer Academy and Eckington School. He also played and coached at the semi-pro level. He currently coaches with the Tennessee State Olympic Development Program (ODP) and holds the UEFA B part 1 and USSF C license.

Allison Kempainen

Assistant Coach

Alabama State

Division 1

Allison Kempainen begins her first season at Alabama State as the assistant soccer coach, bringing with her an extensive history of coaching at the club and high school level.

Over the last decade, Kempainen has coached for the Minnesota Thunder Academy (2009-15) and the Eagan Wave Soccer Club (2016-2020). In addition, she joined Blast South (2020) as a coach and club administrator.

Along with coaching club soccer, she was an assistant coach and co-Head Coach at Bloomington Kennedy High School (2011-18), earning Assistant Coach of the Year accolades in 2017; and she served as an assistant varsity coach at Eagan High School (2019).

Kempainen has been involved in coaching numerous summer and winter camps, including the University of Minnesota Soccer Camp, Elite Feet Soccer camp, and Residential camps with Coerver Coaching.

Kempainen played four years at Minnesota, and was an integral part of rebuilding the program from 2004 to 2007. She earned a Bachelor of Communication degree from Minnesota in 2008

Elizabeth Manner

Associate Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator

South Carolina-Upstate

Division 1

Liz Manner is in her fourth season as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the USC Upstate womens soccer program.

The Sunflower State native assisted in the Spartans record breaking 2018 season. The Spartans ended the 2018 season with a Division I school record of 11 wins, besting their previous total of six wins during the 2017 campaign. USC Upstate set school records in points (93), goals (37), assists (19), shots attempted (327), goals against average (1.43) and shutouts (8). For the first time in the Division I era the Spartans had a trio of players named to the All-Conference team. Jada Kinlaw (Greenville, S.C.), Abbie Ellis (Clemmons, N.C.) and Emelie Valenciano (Zarcero, Costa Rica) were all named to the Big South Second-Team. Ellis and Valenciano were also named to the Big South All-Tournament Team, another first for the womens soccer program.


Manner assisted the 2017 Spartans to the greatest season in school history in record-setting fashion. Upstates 6-10-1 record set a program record for wins as well as fewest losses. The Spartans scored a record-breaking 27 goals and tallied a program-best 1.59 goals per game while attempting the highest number of corner kicks ever at 75. Upstate was strong on the back line as well as surrendering 32 goals, the second-fewest in team history, while only allowing 80 corner kicks.

Manner comes to Upstate after coaching two years for the Pride Soccer Club in Colorado Springs, Colo. While at Pride Soccer Club, she coached a pair of U-13 teams as well as the Pride Soccer Developmental Winter Clinics and Summer Camp.

Manner played at Lyon College where she was a team captain for three-and-a-half seasons and earned Daktronics-NAIA Women's Soccer Scholar-Athlete accolades during the 2010 and 2011 seasons while graduating Suma Cum Laude. Manner played for John during the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

She was the first recipient of the Elizabeth Fuller Award (named after her), which is awarded to the senior who shows the greatest leadership, sportsmanship and work ethic. 

A native of Wichita, Kan., Manner played her prep career at Wichita High School East where she lettered four years in soccer and two in volleyball. Manner earned Second Team All-State honors in soccer.

She graduated from Lyon in 2012 with a Bachelor of Art degree in psychology while also owning a Master of Science in criminal justice.

Emily Grant

Head Women's Soccer Coach

Wofford

Division 1

Wofford College womens soccer head coach Emily Grant begins her second season with the Terriers in 2020. Prior to Wofford, Grant spent the previous three seasons as assistant coach at Georgia Southern.  
    
Grant was hired on January 2, 2019 as head coach of the Terriers. In her first season, the team was 7-12 overall and 3-6 in the Southern Conference to finish  seventh overall. League wins were earned over VMI, The Citadel and East Tennessee State. In the first round of the SoCon Tournament, Wofford advanced with a 2-1 win over VMI before falling to #2 seed Furman. Eleven players were named to the Southern Conference Fall All-Academic Team, while 26 earned spots on the Southern Conference Academic Honor Roll.



Prior to joining Wofford, Grant completed her third season on the coaching staff at Georgia Southern. After the first two seasons as an assistant coach, she was promoted to associate head coach in 2018. She was a key piece to the recruiting and operational tasks for the Eagles. Along with coaching, Grant handled offseason training packets, recruiting visits, ID Camps, and travel accommodations on the road. During the season, she coached the forwards and midfielders and helped run the in-season training sessions.
    
Grant went to Georgia Southern from UNLV, where she coached two years as an assistant coach. While with UNLV, Grant was also the head coach of the U-15 and U-17 girls at Heat Football Club in Las Vegas.
     
Prior to her coaching position with UNLV, Grant attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in classical civilization in 2012. Grant also coached the U-10 and U-14 girls at the Tennessee Soccer Club in Nashville and helped guide the team to the 2012 Tennessee State Cup Finals.
     
In her time at Vanderbilt, Grant was a two-time team captain and helped the Commodores reach two SEC Tournament quarterfinal rounds during her career. Grant was named overall MVP as a senior and, following graduation, was captain of the Philadelphia Fever of the Womens Premiere Soccer League in the summer of 2012.
     
A native of Adamstown, Maryland, Grant also holds a masters degree in sports management from Northeastern University.

Lucy Jeffs

Assistant Coach

Gardner-Webb

Division 1

Lucy Jeffs joins the Gardner-Webb Runnin Bulldogs womens soccer staff for her third season in 2020.

During her Second season, Jeffs lead the Runnin' Bulldogs to a 10-11-1 record for the 2019-20 season and a Big South tournament runner-up finish.

Jeffs helped guide Gardner-Webb to a 12-5-4 record and a Big South tournament runner-up finish in her first season.

A native of Hampshire, England, Jeffs played soccer for Wey Valley FC, Reading Girls FC and South Downs College. In the fall of 2013, she traveled to the United States to play collegiately at Erskine College where she was a starting midfielder for the Flying Fleet from 2013-17.

She started her coaching career at North Greenville University as an assistant coach for the women's program in the fall of 2017. 

Jeffs graduated from Erskine College in May 2017 with in a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management and minor in Psychology, Business, and Health. She also graduated from Gardner-Webb with her MBA in May 2020. 

Jeffs holds her USSF C coaching license.

Errin Stanton

Assistant Coach/GK Coach

Davidson

Division 1

Stanton was a former standout goalkeeper at Pfeiffer University. During his career, he earned All-Region Honorable Mention, and was a two-time All-CVAC and First Team All-Defensive honors. Stanton still ranks in the Pfeiffer single-season record books in season low goals against average (0.93), shutout record of seven and was part of a team that produced 10 consecutive wins.
 
A four-year starter at Pfeiffer, Stanton played professionally in the US USL(D3), A-League and MLS levels. He has coached teams and goalkeepers at the high school, elite club and semi-professional elite club levels.


A 1998 graduate from Pfeiffer, Stanton earned is degree in criminal justice.
 
He resides in Charlotte with his wife  and two sons.

Sara Yunez

Assistant Coach

Eastern Kentucky

Division 1

Sara Yunez was hired as an assistant coach with the Eastern Kentucky University soccer program in January of 2021.
Yunez came to EKU following one season as an assistant coach at Houghton College, a Division-III school in western New York.
Prior to joining the Houghton staff, she spent the spring of 2019 as an assistant at Covenant College in north Georgia.
I couldnt be more excited to have someone like Sara join our soccer family, head coach Matt Cosinuke said. More important than being a decorated player and great coach, Sara is an exceptional person with extremely high character and integrity. Her future as a coach is very bright.
Yunez put together an impressive playing career at Messiah College in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, one of the top Division-III womens soccer programs in the country.
As a senior in 2018, she was voted first-team All-America after logging more than 1,400 minutes while surrendering only five goals.  The native of Dillsburg, Pennsylvania held a 17-1-2 record while completing seven shutouts and posting a 0.833 save percentage.  Yunez was the first All-America goalkeeper in Messiah history.
For her career, Yunez played in 60 games, stopping 90 shots while allowing only 14 goals.  She recorded 26 shutouts and recorded a 36-4-4 record in the net. She was a two-time first-team All-MAC selection. A medical redshirt allowed Yunez to spend five years with the Messiah womens soccer program.  During that time, her teams finished with an impressive 106-6-12 record, which included finishes in the national Sweet 16 (2018), Elite Eight (2014 & 2017), Final Four (2015) and a national runner-up finish in 2016.

Stu Katz

Volunteer Assistant Coach

North Carolina-Greensboro

Division 1

Stu Katz joins the Spartans for his 4th season as a volunteer assistant for the 2020 season. A graduate of Florida State, Katz has over 35 years of experience coaching both men and women of all ages and levels. Katz has been part of the Spartan staff the won back to back conference titles in the SOCON and back to back NCAA Tournament appearances.

Katz most recently led the Northern Guilford Men's program to its best season in school history while breaking every team defending record in the process. The Nighthawks led the entire state of North Carolina in least amount of goals allowed in the year (13). For his work, he was honored as conference and region coach of the year as well as a finalist for North Carolina Coach of the Year.

As a high school coach in both Florida and North Carolina, Katz has won over 300 games. He currently serves as a staff coach for the North Carolina Olympic Developmental Program. He also served as the US Maccabiah Mens Masters Coach at the Pan Am Games in Bueno Aires, Argentina. Katz coached the WPSL Boca Blast, served as an administrator, as well coached teams from U 10  to U 19 for Team Boca.

Over the years Katz has worked with countless college student-athletes, current and former professional players and players that have represented their countries in the Olympics and World Cup. He has mentored numerous former players who have gone on to coach at the club, high school and college levels. He even has a former player that is a current MLS official. He is a Social Studies teacher at Northern Guilford High School and lives in Greensboro with his wife, son and two dogs.

Mason Portalski

Assistant Coach

Coastal Carolina

Division 1

Mason Portalski joined the Coastal Carolina women's soccer coaching staff as an assistant coach in January 2021. He will work with the goalkeepers.

Portalski comes to Coastal after spending two seasons as an assistant coach on the University of Northern Colorado womens soccer coaching staff.

While the Bears 2020 fall season was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, UNC won the Big Sky Tournament and advance to the NCAA Tournament in 2019, his first season on staff. Portalski helped coach four All-Big Sky selections and three honorable mentions including the co-Defensive MVP Maddie Barkow. 
 
Prior to his stop at UNC, Portalski was a graduate assistant coach at Western Illinois University from 2017-19 where he primarily worked with goalkeepers.

He also spent the summer of 2018 in Houston, Texas as an assistant coach with the TTI Bluebonnets of the WPSL which finished the season as the South Texas Conference Champions and made it to the National Round of 16.
 
Portalski earned his bachelors degree in Kinesiology at Washington State University in 2017 where he was a volunteer with the womens soccer program. He went on to get his masters degree in sport management at Western Illinois in 2019. 

He played collegiately at Whittier College in Whittier, Calif., where he was a goalkeeper for the mens team from 2012-13. 
 
He currently holds his United Soccer Coaches National Diploma, Levels 1 & 2 Goalkeeping Diplomas, and his USSF E license.

Daniel O'Hare

Assistant Coach

Arkansas State

Division 1

Daniel O'Hare is entering his fourth season as an assistant coach for the Arkansas State women's soccer team.

O'Hare serves as the Red Wolves goalkeeper coach and guided his group to the best single-season goals-against-average in school history at 0.85 in 2017. A-State rotated among two primary goalkeepers in Kelsey Ponder and Megan McClure. The pair combines to allow just 15 goals on the year and had six shutouts and nine victories.

Ponder took over as the teams primary keeper late in the year and was named as an All-Sun Belt Conference Second Team selection after she set numerous school records during the year. She broke her own record by collecting five shutouts on the year and currently possesses the lowest single-season goals-against average in the programs history at 0.57. She also owns the record for most wins by a goalkeeper in a career at 14 finished the year ranked in the top-five in saves.

His duties at Arkansas State will include serving at the goalkeeper coach and assisting with the day-to-day operations of the team.

O'Hare graduated Tennessee Wesleyan with his bachelor's degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in finance. He also graduate with his master's degree in Business Administration at Arkansas State in 2019.

Kevin Larry

Head Coach

Alcorn State

Division 1

Kevin Larry was tabbed the head womens soccer coach at Alcorn State University in May 2020. A product of Vicksburg, Mississippi, he began his coaching career at the collegiate level as a volunteer assistant at Alcorn in 2012.
 
Most recently, Larry served as assistant coach at Jackson State in 2019. He helped the Tigers register a 7-3 conference record as the team finished the regular season on a six-game winning-streak without allowing a single goal.
 
Prior to JSU, Larry worked four seasons at Shaw University as assistant mens and womens coach from 2015-18.
 
In 2013, Larry worked at North Carolina at Chapel Hill during World Cup champion Crystal Dunn's senior year. He served as a volunteer assistant breaking down game footage for future training purposes with the match analysis team.
 
At UNC, Larry worked for Anson Dorrance, one of the most successful head coaches in soccer history with 21 national championships and a U.S. Womens World Cup title in 1991 in China.

Larry's club experience is with Raleigh area clubs Triangle Futbol Club and North Carolina FC as well as mens amateur club Triangle Brigade FC. In 2014, Brigade FC captured the Southeast Regional Championship of amateur soccer and in doing so, qualified for the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.

Brigade FC also competed in the TASL Mens Open A Division, Raleigh North Carolinas top mens amateur division. With the Brigade, Larry had the privilege of working with players who competed as Division I players and in the professional ranks in the U.S., South America and Europe.

Larry holds a National Coaching license from NSCAA, Raymond Verheijen Football Periodization Certificate and State Diploma. He graduated from Shaw with a bachelors degree in interdisciplinary studies: history/mass communications. Coach Kev has two amazing daughters: Kamille and Klaire. 

Erik Solberg

Head Coach

Arkansas-Pine Bluff

Division 1

Erik Solberg was named the Head Soccer Coach at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB), NCAA Division I members of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) in March 2020 after leading Northwestern Oklahoma State University to their best ever season at the NCAA Division II level in 2019..  Coach Erik previously spent three successful seasons as the Head Womens Soccer Coach at East Texas Baptist University (ETBU). 

Coach Erik took the reins of the UAPB soccer program just as the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted everyday life. In Solbergs first season, played in the Spring of 2021, he led the Golden Lions back to the SWAC tournament for the first time since 2018, as the #7 seed, despite being picked 10th and last in the pre-season poll, the best finish since 2016. UAPB saw their RPI improve 30 places in the first year of Coach Eriks tenure.

The 2020-21 Golden Lions recorded their best winning percentage since 2016, while achieving their best Goals Against Average since 2011. UAPB also tallied their most goals in a season in 5 years, while committing the fewest fouls per game in all of NCAA Division I soccer. 

Prior to UAPB, Solberg led Northwestern Oklahoma State University to new heights at the NCAA Division II level during the 2019 season.. Despite being picked last in the Great American Conference (GAC) pre-season rankings, Northwestern finished fifth in the league. In the 2019 season, the Rangers scored a win over regionally ranked Oklahoma Baptist, and a draw over conference champion Southwestern Oklahoma State, both on the road. The teams seven wins more than doubled their win total from the 2018 campaign and set the program record for wins since joining NCAA Division II.  The Rangers scored the most goals in a season since 2004, while producing the most shutouts in a season since 2005, both program bests since joining NCAA Division II. The team also enjoyed their largest conference win in the NCAA Division II era, and scored their largest conference road win since 2008.

In addition to program accolades, Coach Erik recruited the 2019 GAC Newcomer of the Year, and saw two freshman, and one transfer named GAC Player of the Week honors.. The Rangers also set the GAC record for shots in a single game, and tied the programs single game goal record in a 13-0 victory over Oklahoma Panhandle State.

Before becoming a collegiate head coach, Solberg spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons as the Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator NCAA Division II East Central University.  Coach Erik started his college career serving on staff at NCAA Division I Nicholls State University, while also working at the club level with St. Charles Soccer Club, and as the Head Boys Soccer Coach at Ponchatoula High School.

Solberg is set to begin his first season at Northwestern after leading ETBU to program records during his tenure in Marshall.  Coach Erik became the first coach in program history to qualify for the American Southwest Conference (ASC) Tournament in each of his first three seasons, and quickly rebuilt the program from a record of 5-13 to 13-5-2 in just two seasons.  Solberg finished his time on the Hill with a record of 27-21-7, including a mark of 21-12-3 in the past two years.

In 2018, the Tigers finished 8-7-1, giving ETBU a .500 record in back-to-back years for first time since 2011-12, and saw the program rewarded with 6 ASC All-Conference awardees, all of whom were Freshman and Sophomores. The Tigers also had one ASC Offensive Player of the Week. The 21 wins over the course of 2017-2018 are the most since 2005-2006.

In the record-setting 2017 campaign, the Tigers set program records for regular season wins (13), winning percentage (.708), and also had the fewest losses in a season in the history of the program (5).  ETBU also earned their first United Soccer Coaches West Regional ranking, and hosted an ASC Quarter-Final match for the first time in program history by virtue of their Top-4 conference finish in the ASC.  The Tigers also made history, by defeating a NCAA Division I opponent, Alcorn State, 4-1, for the first time in school history. 

The success of the team also resulted in many individuals garnering awards in 2017.  Solberg recruited both the ASC Offensive Freshman of the Year and ASC Defensive Freshman of the Year, and for the first time in program history, ETBU had players named to the United Soccer Coaches All-West Region team.  The Tigers also had 7 All-Conference players including 3 first team selections, and one ASC Offensive Player of the Week award.

In Solbergs first season at ETBU in 2016, he led the program to a 6th place finish in the ASC, marking the programs best finish since 2011.  The Tigers lost 6 fewer games than in 2015, and finished with the most shutouts and fewest losses in 5 seasons.

Off the field, the Tigers excelled in the classroom under Coach Erik..  The team cumulative GPA has risen from 2.99 in 2015 to 3.42 in 2017, and ETBU has had 15 student-athletes in 2018, 11 in 2017, and 10 in 2016 named to the ASC Academic Team.  The Tigers have also earned the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award.


Prior to his time at ETBU, Solberg gained experience at both the NCAA Division I and II levels, as well as head-coaching experience at the high school and club levels.

Coach Erik was the Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at East Central University, a Division II member of the Great American Conference (GAC). At East Central, Solberg was responsible for all aspects of recruiting and day-to-day operations, and led the team to the GAC Tournament semi-final game in 2014.

Solberg started his collegiate coaching career as the Volunteer Assistant Coach at Nicholls State University in 2013. In his lone season with the program, Nicholls recorded their best record in program history at 12-6-2.  The Colonels also notched their most conference wins in program history (6), and their first conference tournament appearance since 2004.

While in Louisiana, he also served as the Head Boys Soccer Coach at Ponchatoula High School, as well as a Head Soccer Coach with the St. Charles Soccer Club.  Solberg led the club to its first ever State Championship, capturing the Louisiana Soccer Association State Cup/Governors Cup with the U-12 Girls team in April, 2014.

Solbergs other coaching experience includes a stint as a staff coach with FC Dallas East Texas, as well as serving as Head Coach of the Athletes in Action Womens Soccer team as they competed and served in France in 2016.

Solberg holds both an Advanced National Diploma and National Diploma from United Soccer Coaches, along with a soccer certification from the National Federation of State High School Associations.  He has been responsible for directing camps at all four of his collegiate coaching stops, and has worked camps nationwide, including Oklahoma State University, Texas Christian University, the University of Wisconsin, University of Oregon, Lamar University, and Tyler Junior College.  He has also been staff member of the FC Dallas College Combine, H2C College Combines, Texas Spirit ID Camp SportSource College Showcase ID camp, and has worked as a director and coach with EXACT Soccer Camps.

Solberg got his start in coaching serving as Camp Director and Coach with Skyhawks, Inc., working with ages 3 to 15 years old, from 2009-2011.  As a player, Solberg competed for Grove United Soccer Club and the Buffalo Grove Hurricanes Club in Chicago.

Coach Erik was a track and cross-country athlete at the University of Mississippi from 2009-2011.  He scored points for the Rebels at the 2009 Southeastern Conference (SEC) Cross-Country Championships, and also earned a spot on the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2009-2010.  During his career at Ole Miss, he was inducted into the M-Club for Varsity Letter-Winners in October of 2010, and was also one of only 100 NCAA student-athletes nationwide selected to attend the 2011 NCAA Sports and Entertainment Summit.

In his time in Oxford, Solberg was also a scholarship violinist in the Lafayette-Oxford-University Orchestra.  He remains an active member of the Ole Miss M-Club Alumni Chapter, and Ole Miss Alumni Association.

Following his career with the Rebels, Solberg completed his athletic eligibility as a graduate-student at Division I Southeastern Louisiana, where he lettered in track and field, while being the only Southeastern graduate student to earn Southland Conference Academic Honor Roll merits.


Prior to his collegiate career, Coach Erik was a stand-out athlete at Buffalo Grove High School, earning All-American honors in Track and Field for his sixth-place finish in the 2000-meter Steeplechase at the 2007 USA Track and Field National Youth Championships.  He was also a member of the 2003 USA Track and Field National Junior Olympic team champion with Prospect Heights Running Club.  Solberg is on the Buffalo Grove High School Wall of Fame.


Servant leadership has been a big part of Solbergs life, having served with the Fellowship of Christian Athlete (FCA) huddle groups at Ole Miss, Southeastern Louisiana, ETBU, as well as starting the campus huddle group at Nicholls. He has also served with Athletes in Action, going on a mission trip to Zimbabwe in 2012 as an athlete, and as a coach to France in 2016.

Solberg also has a passion for broadcasting, serving as the voice of the Rochester Honkers baseball organization in the summer of 2014, and also doing play-by-play work for Nicholls, and ETBU.  He has also done public address work, most notably for the 2011 SEC Softball Championship, the 2016 ASC Baseball Tournament, and for Ole Miss baseball, volleyball, softball, and football.

Solberg holds his Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from Ole Miss, and his Master of Education in Sports Administration from East Central University.  The Arlington Heights, Ill., native is married to the former Shelby Tidwell, and they reside in Little Rock with their son, Hayes, and dog, Scout.

Jeremy Fontenot

Head Coach

Southern-Baton Rouge

Division 1

Head Women's Soccer Coach Jeremy Fontenot enters his second season leading the Lady Jaguars.

Fontenot finished last year with 3-14 and making to the SWAC for the first time since 2014. Under his guidance, Fontenot helped produced two All SWAC performers in Sophia Zavala (2nd team, 2017) and Victoria Mendez (2nd team, 2017).

Prior to his arrival, Fontenot earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Resources at Upper Iowa University.

Fontenot coached the Lady Eagles at Parkview Baptist for three seasons and leading the team to the playoffs every year. He was named district coach of the year in his final season.  Fontenot produced a handful of All-District players and two All-Metro players during his tenure at Parkview.

Coach Fontenot has been married to his beautiful wife Ashley for 5 years, and reside in Baton Rouge with their three daughters, Jordyn (5)  Jaedyn (3) and Jaicee (3).

Mckinnon Pennell

Assistant Coach

University of the South

Division 3

McKinnon Pennell C'18 is in his third season with the University of the South women's soccer program. Making his second stint with the program, he also served as an assistant with the program for the 2019 and 2020 seasons. 

He recently served as Director of Soccer Operations for Old Dominion University (Va.) during the 2021 campaign. During his time with the Monarchs, he was a part of a conference regular season and tournament championship with Conference USA (C-USA). Additionally, he was a part of a coaching staff that was named the C-USA Coaching Staff of the Year.  He was a part of research, scouting and evaluation of prospective student-athletes and opponents. Additionally, he was responsible for player performance technology and analytics. 

Off the pitch, he maintained the program's social media channels and administrative day-to-day operations of travel, equipment and budgets. 

He has also served as an Academy Coach for Virginia Beach City FC. 

Pennell was also a former four-year letterwinner with the Sewanee men's soccer team, and he was named to the SAA Academic Honor Roll. 

Pennell earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a History minor from the University of the South, and he is expected to complete his Master's of Education with a Sport Management concentration in 2022 from the University of Texas at Austin. 

Renee Van Horn

Assistant Women's Soccer Coach

Oglethorpe

Division 3

Vanhorn comes to Oglethorpe after completing her Master of Sports Management at the University of West Georgia.  While at UWG she was a graduate assistant helping in all aspects of the womens soccer program. VanHorn competed collegiately at Division II University of North Georgia where she played for Anania in her first season in Dahlonega. In four years, VanHorn was a two-time All-Southeast Region performer and was named All-Peach Belt twice as well. In her career, she scored 31 goals and recorded 17 assists while setting the career penalty kicks record, converting five goals on five attempts.

Off the field, Vanhorn excelled as she was named PBC All-Academic Team three seasons and was a three-time selection to the PBC Presidential Honor Roll. Additionally, Vanhorn was awarded the NCAA Womens Enhancement Postgraduate Scholarship and was a nominee for NCAA Woman of the Year. At UNG, she was the recipient of the UNG LeeAnn Noble Nighthawk Service Award and the Women of UNG Leadership Award.

Kerry Edwards

Head Coach

Georgia Southwestern State

Division 2

1st Season as head Coach at Georgia Southwestern State University

in 2020 Edwards worked remotely for the Northwestern State University women's soccer team. Her primary responsibilities included scouting opponents, analyzing and breaking down game film along with consulting about practice planning and tactical development. 


Edwards spent the 2016 season at UNA as a graduate assistant before accepting a position as an assistant coach with the University of South Alabama for the 2017 season. She then returned to UNA in 2018.

The McKinney, Texas native will continue to work with the UNA goalkeepers.

In 2015, Edwards started her coaching collegiate career at Southwest Oklahoma State. The Bulldogs posted 11 shutouts as a team and had a 1.19 GAA, while going 13-6-1 overall and 8-3-1 in the Great American Conference, good for third in the league standings.

SWOSU's goals against average ranked second in the GAC, and the 11 clean sheets were tied for first.

At UNA in 2016, the Lions' goalkeepers posted a 1.28 goals against average that ranked sixth in the Gulf South Conference.

In 2018, UNA had a 1.27 GAA, allowing just 27 goals in 21 matches played.

Prior to joining the staff at Southwest Oklahoma State, she spent the spring of 2015 as a volunteer assistant at McKinney North High School in McKinney, Texas.

Edwards was a highly-decorated player at Dallas Baptist, where she led DBU to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2011. She finished her career second in the Division II record books with 51 career shutouts, and third with over 8,018 minutes in goal.

She was named all-Heartland Conference and all-South Central Region in each of her four seasons, and was a two-time NCCAA All-American as well.

ROBIN SMITH

Head Coach

Erskine

Division 2

Smith begins her fourth season at Erskine. After serving as Assistant Coach for two seasons, she became head coach.   Originally from Greenwood, South Carolina, Robin graduated from Winthrop University with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education-Fitness/Wellness, minor in Biology degree (3.96) in 2009, where she was a three-year letterman in soccer and also ran cross-country one season.  Robin earned her Master of Arts in Education, Organizational Training and Education Concentration(3.91) graduate degree from Tusculum College in 2011, where she used her final year of eligibility to run Cross Country and play soccer. She not only lettered but also earned South Atlantic Conference Runner of the Week honors in 2010. She also served as a strength and conditioning coach during this time.  Prior to her arrival at Erskine, Robin was Head Women's Soccer Coach at Daniel High School and played on the Carolina Elite Cobras in the W League. Robin is also a member of the South Carolina Olympic Developmental Program Staff, evaluating and training players as well as coaching in camps in the district and state. She holds her USSF "C" Coaching License Certification and is a certified soccer official. Robin has helped with the development of the Dixie High School women's soccer program, coached multiple teams with the SCUFC Toros of Greenwood Soccer Club and assisted in the administration and direction of several summer camps. She also has her NSCAA Goalkeeping Level 1 & 2. Robin currently resides in Due West, South Carolina where she is also a Resident Director for Erskine. 


Robin Smith
Head Women's Soccer Coach




Robin Smith begins her fourth season at Erskine. After serving as Assistant Coach for two seasons, she became head coach.   Originally from Greenwood, South Carolina, Robin graduated from Winthrop University with a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education-Fitness/Wellness, minor in Biology degree (3.96) in 2009, where she was a three-year letterman in soccer and also ran cross-country one season.  Robin earned her Master of Arts in Education, Organizational Training and Education Concentration(3.91) graduate degree from Tusculum College in 2011, where she used her final year of eligibility to run Cross Country and play soccer. She not only lettered but also earned South Atlantic Conference Runner of the Week honors in 2010. She also served as a strength and conditioning coach during this time.  Prior to her arrival at Erskine, Robin was Head Women's Soccer Coach at Daniel High School and played on the Carolina Elite Cobras in the W League. Robin is also a member of the South Carolina Olympic Developmental Program Staff, evaluating and training players as well as coaching in camps in the district and state. She holds her USSF "C" Coaching License Certification and is a certified soccer official. Robin has helped with the development of the Dixie High School women's soccer program, coached multiple teams with the SCUFC Toros of Greenwood Soccer Club and assisted in the administration and direction of several summer camps. She also has her NSCAA Goalkeeping Level 1 & 2. Robin currently resides in Due West, South Carolina where she is also a Resident Director for Erskine. 

Van Taylor

Lander

Division 2

Van Taylor is Lander's Director of Development and the director of the Bearcat Club. Taylor stepped down as Lander's head men's soccer coach in December of 2014 after three decades seasons on the sidelines for the Bearcats. He was inducted into the Lander Athletics Hall of Fame in February of 2019. 

Taylor, a 1975 graduate of Erskine College, received a bachelor's degree in health and physical education and earned NAIA All-District 6 and NCAA All-American honors in 1975. He was inducted into the Erskine Hall of Fame in 1982.

He received his master's degree in education from Lander in 1990 and his Certification in Administration and Supervision from Clemson University in 2003.

In 30 seasons at Lander, Taylor amassed an overall 391-164-34 record (.693 winning percentage). The 2005 team won the NCAA Division II Southeast Region championship, while the 2001 team finished No. 6 in the country when it posted a 17-4 campaign and reached the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II national tournament.

Taylor led Lander to its first of three NAIA District 6 championships in 1987 (15-4-1). The then-Senators also won District 6 titles in 1990 (20-5) and 1991 (21-3-1).

In 1990, the Senators won the NAIA Area 9 championship and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament where they placed third. The Senators won the Nels Dahlquist Sportsmanship Trophy at the tournament.

Taylor was named the PBC Coach of the Year in 1991, 1995 and 2012, and the NCAA Southeast Region Coach of the Year in 1995, 2001 and 2005. He was voted NAIA District 6 Coach of the Year in 1985, '90 and '91, and NAIA Area 9 Coach of the Year in 1990.

In 1975, Taylor was a first-round draft choice for the New York Cosmos of the NASL. Taylor was traded to the Miami Toros in 1976 where he played for three seasons while earning runnerup honors for Rookie of the Year. He was later traded to the Columbus Magic of the ASL in 1979. He finished his playing career with the Phoenix Inferno of the MISL (1980-84).

As a prep at West Essex High School in North Caldwell, N.J., Taylor was a Parade Magazine All-American and was inducted into the West Essex Hall of Fame in 1991.

Taylor earned the Union of European Football Association (UEFA) "A" license in 1998 and added the UEFA Pro License in 2004. He also holds the NSCAA's Advance National Goalkeeping Diploma and Premier Diploma. A USSF "A" and National Youth licensed coach. Taylor is a U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) staff coach and instructor and serves as a Region III staff coach for the U.S. Youth Soccer Association (USYSA).

Vanessa Fyffe

Head coach

Tusculum

Division 2

Fyffe returns to the Pioneer coaching staff after spending the past two years as assistant coach at the University of Louisiana Monroe. The 2010 Tusculum graduate succeeds Chelsea Parker, who departed in February to become head coach at Francis Marion University.

While at ULM, Fyffe coached goalkeepers and was heavily involved in recruiting, video breakdown and technical field sessions for the Warhawks, a member of the Division I Sun Belt Conference.

"First, I want to thank both coach Mike Joy and director of athletics Doug Jones for this opportunity to be rejoining the team. I am very excited to be returning to my alma mater and working with Mike again," said Fyffe. "Tusculum has always been a home away from home for me. As a coach, I cannot wait to start working with our players, building a foundation towards a great season and getting a chance to contribute to our continuing team legacy."

During her first coaching stint at Tusculum from 2013 through 2017, Fyffe helped coach the Pioneers to the 2016 South Atlantic Conference regular-season championship and five SAC Championship tournament appearances, including two trips to the semifinals. She also coached 13 players who received postseason All-Conference honors, while also overseeing the junior varsity program. Two of her goalies, Marissa Williams and Miriah Martin, earned All-SAC honors during Fyffe's first tenure with the Pioneers.

"I am tremendously excited that Vanessa is returning to her alma mater and to our coaching staff," said Joy, who is the winningest coach in SAC history with 276 victories in 23 seasons at Tusculum, and has 362 wins in 28 years as a collegiate head coach. "I know her vast experience as a player and coach will help us to reach our goals as a program. Vanessa has a great positive outlook on life, and I consider myself very fortunate to have her back on our staff."

A native of Bellbrook, Ohio, she earned a bachelor of arts degree in sport management with a minor in coaching from Tusculum in 2010. In her playing career, she played 22 games and compiled a 9-6-1 record with a 1.18 goals against average. Her career goals against average ranks as the eighth-best in program history.

As a junior, Fyffe started 16 matches and finished with 61 saves and a 1.26 goals against average spanning 1,355 minutes of playing time. That year, Fyffe was in goal when the Pioneers upset seventh-ranked Columbus State by a 2-1 score in Greeneville to win the Southeast Region championship and advance to the Elite Eight. She was a member of three Tusculum teams that appeared in the NCAA Division II Tournament, including a Sweet 16 appearance in her senior season, and was a member of the SAC Commissioner Honor Roll and Tusculum Athletic Director's Honor Roll.

Fyffe returned to Tusculum in 2013 after three seasons as an assistant coach at Division III Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pa., where she worked with the Greyhound goalkeepers. She also assisted in practice planning, recruiting, fundraising and off-season workouts during her time at Moravian. At Moravian, the Greyhounds made three straight appearances in the Landmark Conference Tournament, twice in the league semifinals along with one berth in the championship match.

Fyffe has also gained valuable coaching experience through her work with the Joy of Soccer Camp held each summer at Tusculum, along with the Mommy and Me Soccer Program for youth in the Bethlehem area. Fyffe has also been involved with Play for the Cure to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

She received a United Soccer Coaches National Diploma in 2017, along with regional and state goaltending diplomas. Fyffe, who was a licensed FIFA referee for 10 years, earned her Masters of business administration degree from Moravian in 2012.

Andrea Kaminski

Assistant Coach

Georgia Gwinnett

NAIA

Andrea Kaminski enters her sixth season as the assistant coach of Georgia Gwinnett Colleges women's soccer program in 2020.

A former standout NCAA Division I goalkeeper, Kaminski helps coordinate the Grizzly defense and goalkeepers, as well as assists head coach Dr. Mike Giuliano with recruiting, training and day-to-day operations of the program.

She has mentored the last two Association of Independent Institutions Goalkeeper of the Year award winners with Sophie Hoare honored during the 2019 season and Elisa Randel named following the 2018 campaign. Over the last two seasons the Grizzlies have posted a 32-10-1 record.

Kaminski has helped lead GGC to three A.I.I. titles (2019, 2018 and 2017) -- the first conference championships in program history. The 2018 squad won a single-season school-record 17 matches and captured the program's first NAIA national tournament victory with a 3-0 home triumph against Columbia (Mo.) in the Opening Round. The Round of 16 appearance in 2018 marked the deepest postseason run in program history.

She helped the 2019 team tally 15 victories and advance to the Opening Round title match behind a 3-2 double-overtime victory against Trinity Christian (Ill.). The Grizzlies registered a 1-0 home victory against No. 5 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.). GGC did not allow a goal during five October matches.

In 2017, Kaminski led the GGC defense to nine shutouts and the program's first conference championship. The Grizzlies defeated two nationally ranked opponents, earning triumphs against No. 23 Cumberland (Tenn.) and No. 23 Jamestown (N.D.). The win against Jamestown gave the Grizzlies the Association of Independent Institutions title and berth to the NAIA national tournament. Goalkeeper Sophie Hoare earned first A.I.I. team honors.

She guided the Grizzlies to their fifth-consecutive double-digit-win season at 10-7-2 in 2016. The defensive unit posted four shutouts as the Grizzlies outscored their opponents by a 50-30 margin.

During 2015, Kaminskis first year at GGC, she helped guide the Grizzly defense to five shutouts en route to a 10-win season.

Prior to arriving at GGC, Kaminski spent the previous four seasons on the staff at NCAA Division III Capital University (Ohio), helping the team to three conference championships and a berth into the national semifinals in 2013. She helped Crusaders goalkeeper Maggie Donnellan collect three consecutive conference goalkeeper of the year awards as well as a pair of all-region honors and an NSCAA All-America designation.

Kaminski boasts a wealth of playing experience, beginning with a record-breaking career in goal for the University of Cincinnati. In her four years with the Bearcats, she logged 6,713 minutes in goal and graduated as the schools all-time saves leader (407), leading the Big East Conference in the category in both 2006 and 2009.

Following her collegiate career, Kaminski competed for the West Virginia Illusion of the W-League and spent time co