UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- For the second time at the helm of the Nittany Lion women’s soccer program, Erica Walsh has been named the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) National Coach of the Year, as announced by the NSCAA Wednesday afternoon. Coach Walsh is one of three Nittany Lion head coaches to win the award. Pat Farmer was named NSCAA National Coach of the Year in 1999 while Paula Wilkins won the same award in 2005.
“Obviously, it is a tremendous honor,” Walsh said. “It just reaffirmed what I already knew. My staff is the best staff in the country. My associate head coach, Ann Cook, the 20 goals in the NCAA tournament is a testament to her leadership and our attack. Tim Wassell, our goalkeeper coach, and his guidance with the shutouts in the NCAA tournament. Our director of operations, Kara Lowery, allowed us to have an unbelievable experience throughout this whole ride and Nick Stirrett, our volunteer coach. They make my day enjoyable every day and make my job easy.”
Walsh also received NSCAA Coach of the Year honors in 2012 after the Nittany Lions finished runner-up in the national championship match.
The 2015 season featured the Nittany Lions capturing their 17th Big Ten regular season title, sixth Big Ten tournament title and the NCAA title for the first time in program history.
The 2015 Nittany Lions recorded 22 wins for third time in program history and tied a program record 14 wins at home. Penn State ended the year on a 11-game winning streak, which included eight-straight shutouts to end the season.
In Coach Walsh’s nine years at Penn State, the Nittany Lions have won the Big Ten regular season title eight times and advanced to the College Cup Final twice. Walsh has also been named the Big Ten Coach of the Year three times.
On Nov. 6, she won her 150th match as the head coach of the Penn State women’s soccer program.
In her time as the Nittany Lion head coach, Walsh has tallied a record of 157-50-10 (.746) and overall as a head coach, Walsh has a record of 197-78-13 (.706).