MSU Soccer Names Sarah Strickland Assistant Coach
STARKVILLE, Miss. ? Mississippi State head soccer coach Neil MacDonald announced Monday the hiring of Sarah Strickland as assistant coach for the Bulldogs. The hiring is pending the approval of the Board of Trustees, Institutions of Higher Learning.
"I am very excited to have Sarah become part of our Bulldog family," MacDonald said. "She is going to bring numerous qualities to our program. She has an infectious enthusiasm and will be a tremendous role model for our players. Sarah’s main responsibility will be to coordinate recruiting activities, where her experience with club soccer and the college levels will be invaluable."
Strickland brings a wealth of coaching experience at various levels to the MSU campus. A United States Soccer Federation "B" licensed coach, she has also earned the honor of serving on the Region I Olympic Development Program and U.S. National Team coaching staffs.
She joins the MSU coaching staff following a nearly two-year stint as the staff director for the Birmingham United Soccer Association. There she organized showcases and summer tours while also coaching elite competitive teams.
Strickland moved into the role after the American Soccer Club, which she served as Girls’ Director of Coaching, became an affiliate of the BUSA.
She also served as Director of Coaching for the Montgomery YMCA Capital City Streaks out of Montgomery, Ala., after assisting the men’s and women’s programs at Auburn University at Montgomery.
Strickland holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from George Mason and a Master of Science in sport management from Troy University, where she assisted the women’s team before being named interim head coach in 1999.
A three-year letterwinner (1995-97) at George Mason, Strickland earned the Colonial Athletic Association Commissioner’s Academic Award each of those seasons.