Diversity and inclusion are winners with new hires at UT - Knox TN Today
In soccer news, new head coach Joe Kirt hired Edwards this week. The last time Tennessee had a female assistant coach in soccer was when then head coach Angela Kelly had former Lady Vol Keeley Dowling on her staff. The other assistant coach at that time was Kirt.
Becky Edwards
Edwards served as an assistant coach at Penn for two years. As a player, she was a two-time First Team All-American at Florida State and then served on the staff as a graduate assistant. She also played on USA soccer teams and then professionally for nine years in the United States and abroad.
“Becky Edwards is one of the most outstanding student-athletes we had at FSU during my time there,” former Florida State head coach Mark Krikorian. “As a player, she was a coach on the field. Her playing experience, understanding of the game and her positive personality will be a great addition to the Tennessee women’s soccer program.”
Edwards hasn’t made it to Knoxville just yet. She currently is in Aubagne, France, as an assistant coach with the U.S. Under-20 Women’s Youth National Team for the Sud Ladies Cup, the final international match before the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica in August. Edwards will arrive in Tennessee later this month.
“She knows firsthand what success and development look like at the highest level, and there is no better mentor for our current and future players, many of whom aspire to achieve similar goals in their careers as Becky has accomplished,” Kirt said. “She is fully committed to player development on and off the field. We can’t wait for her to arrive on Rocky Top.”
Kirt also added another female to his staff in Macaulay Soto, who will serve as director of operations. She served in the same position for five years for women’s soccer at Virginia Tech and managed the recruiting database, coordinated equipment and video and oversaw all aspects of team travel.
Macaulay Soto
Soto was an All-American soccer player at Messiah College in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and won an NCAA Division III national championship in 2012.
“We are thrilled to add Macaulay to our staff,” Kirt said. “She brings a wealth of experience, professionalism and a selfless approach to our team. She will be an integral part of our day-to-day operations and bring new ideas to enhance our student-athletes’ overall well-being and experience at Tennessee.”