March 30, 2005
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara University's Erin Hussey has been promoted to first assistant coach of the women's soccer program, head coach Jerry Smith recently announced. Hussey has been an assistant coach for the Broncos the past three seasons, and steps in for Mike Smith, who left SCU last month to take an associate head coaching position at the University of Oregon. She begins her new responsibilities immediately.
"I am very excited to have been a part of Erin's promotion," Jerry Smith said. "She adds tremendous value to our team in various aspects and is well deserving of the promotion she has signed. She is a great assistant in a long line of great assistants our program has been lucky to have on staff."
A native of Plymouth, Minn., Hussey spent three seasons as Northwestern University's top assistant prior to joining the Broncos in June 2002. In addition to her duties on the mission campus, Hussey currently also works with several youth teams in the Bay Area, including the DeAnza Strykers and the North Valley Tornadoes.
"Obviously we were sad to see Mike leave our program," Hussey said. "That being said, I am very excited to have the opportunity to continue my development as an assistant coach at Santa Clara. We have a wonderful group of student-athletes to work with, great resources within our athletic department, and a great leader and teacher in Jerry Smith. I look forward to continue contributing to the growth and success within our program."
Hussey was a two-time All-Big Ten honoree as a forward at the University of Minnesota, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in Spanish and International Business. She then spent time as the head coach of the Wayzata and Edina (Minn.) U-15 Girls' Premier soccer teams, and worked as an assistant account executive for the advertising firm Fallon McElligott in Minneapolis. While at Northwestern, she also served as the head coach of the Glenview U-15 Girl's Soccer Club.
Santa Clara advanced to the program's 10th College Cup last December and was led by national Honda Award winner Leslie Osborne. The squad is currently participating in off-season conditioning and will take part in four scrimmages as part of the spring season.