Erin Switalski Named Head Women’s Soccer Coach
TAMPA, Fla. - The University of Tampa has announced that Erin Switalski will be its head women's soccer coach. Switalski becomes the fifth coach in program history, and replaces all-time winningest coach Gerry Lucey, who accepted a club coaching position.
"I'm excited about this incredible opportunity at University of Tampa. I feel blessed to be able to work with such a prestigious University and women's soccer program with such a rich history. I want to thank Larry (Marfise) and the committee for this amazing opportunity."
Switalski previously spent five seasons as an assistant coach on the Florida Gulf Coast University women's soccer staff. Switalski's role with the Eagles involved assisting in all aspects of program management. She designed and implemented coaching and training strategies to enhance and maximize the overall success of the program, while focusing on goalkeeper specific training. Switalski also coordinated the program's overall recruiting strategy of prospective student-athletes both domestically and abroad. She was also charged with the academic success of the team, whom carried a 3.5 cumulative GPA. Additionally, she coordinated travel and maintained budgetary responsibilities.
In 2014, Switalski was part of an FGCU team that went 17-4 and won the Atlantic Sun championship. The Eagles would advance to the NCAA tournament, where they fell to Auburn in the first round. The record-shattering season included a program-record 17 wins. After dropping a 2-0 result to No. 16 South Carolina on Sept. 14 on a neutral field, the Eagles won a program record 13 consecutive matches, outscoring their opponents 36-6 with seven shutouts, including a 15-2 advantage against A-Sun competition during the regular season.
By the end of her fourth season, the numbers from the 2013 campaign would suggest that it was the greatest season offensively in FGCU women's soccer history. The Eagles set program single-season records in points (130), goals (43), shots (384), shots per game (19.20), shots on goal (180) and shots on goal per game (9.00). The Eagles compiled a 13-3-4 record and went 7-0-2 in the Atlantic Sun to earn a fourth-consecutive Regular Season Championship.
In her third season with FGCU, Switalski worked with freshmen Brittany Brown who allowed only 13 goals in 21 appearances while posting 9 shutouts and a 0.65 Goals Against Average. Overall, the team captured their third consecutive Atlantic Sun Regular Season Championship and second consecutive Atlantic Sun Tournament Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. The program also saw its highest NCAA RPI ranking in school history, finishing the season ranked 53rd out of 327 teams.
In her second season with FGCU, Switalski worked with Atlantic Sun Defensive Player of the Year and All-Conference First-Team goalkeeper Stephanie Powers who, along with A-Sun First-Team selections Kat Hunter & KC Correllus, helped guide the Eagles to 12 shutouts and a 0.111 Goals Against Average during conference play. Powers' 12 shutouts in 2011 also earned her the all-time record for most career shutouts in Atlantic Sun history, a list that Switalski joins her protégé on at the fourth spot.
During the 2011 season, the Green and Blue allowed only one goal during conference play and finished on top of the A-Sun for the second straight year. The 2011 season also marked the first opportunity for FGCU to be eligible for NCAA and A-Sun post-season play. The Green and Blue took full advantage of this opportunity by winning the A-Sun Tournament and representing FGCU in the NCAA Tournament, both first time accomplishments in school history.
In her first season, Switalski worked with Atlantic Sun All-Conference First-Team goalkeeper Stephanie Powers and All-Conference defenders Kat Hunter & KC Correllus en route to a league-leading 11 shutouts in 2010. Correllus also garnered A-Sun Defensive Player of the Year honors as the Eagles won their first A-Sun Regular Season title and boasted the conference's top Goals Against Average at 0.51. Under Switalski's watch, the Green and Blue also allowed only two goals during conference play and were one of three teams in the entire nation to give up less than 10 goals the entire season.
In addition to her role with the FGCU women's soccer program, Switalski also served as a staff coach for the Florida Olympic Development Program (ODP) and also coaches at the club level with the Lee County Strikers.
Prior to FGCU, Switalski spent three seasons as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla., where she assisted in all aspects of program management and served as Interim Head Coach during the 2009 spring season. Switalski was also responsible for recruiting the 2008 Sunshine State Conference Freshmen of the Year, Melissa Ortiz, who finished her freshmen campaign with 17 goals.
Switalski joined Lynn after a successful professional career in the Danish First Division and additionally served as an assistant coach at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn. for two seasons. During her appointment, the Lady Govs starting goalkeeper posted a 1.30 Goals Against Average in 2007, good for fourth in the Ohio Valley Conference.
Prior to embarking on her coaching career, Switalski starred at Campbell University in Buies, N.C. A four-year letter-winner with the Lady Camels, she was a three-time Atlantic Sun All-Conference First-Team selection and was named the 2004 A-Sun Tournament MVP after posting shutouts against Gardner-Webb and UCF. She led Campbell to its first A-Sun title and initial appearance in the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship in 2004. She also holds school records for shutouts in a career (26) and season (9 in 2003 & 2004), and career saves (329) while finishing with the second lowest Goals Against Average in a career (1.11).
The Breckville, Ohio, native graduated with a Bachelors of Science in exercise sciences from Campbell in 2005.