Ohio State Women’s Soccer Hires New Assistant Coach – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/23/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Soccer
Jan. 23, 2007
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Stephanie Gabbert has been named an assistant coach of the Ohio State women’s soccer team, OSU head coach Lori Walker announced Tuesday. Gabbert is replacing Jon Morgan, who accepted an assistant coaching position at Maryland in December.
“Stephanie brings a vast network, knowledge and enthusiasm that will instantly impact our program’s vision and goals,” Walker, who just completed her 10th season as head coach of the Buckeyes, said. “She is very familiar with the best youth talent around the country and has well established relationships with club coaches in both the West and Midwest regions that will open recruiting opportunities for the Buckeyes.”
“What attracted me to Ohio State was its outstanding athletic department and obviously the women’s soccer program is very strong,” Gabbert said. “The chance to work with Lori, a good friend, is a great opportunity and I am hoping to help the team continue to move forward and compete for a Big Ten and national championship. It is exciting to return to the college game and work with great players.”
In 2003, Gabbert began her work with the U.S. Women’s National Team coaching staff. Gabbert’s duties included player development and coaching education on a national scale, serving as a national instructor for the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) coaching schools. In addition to her instructional responsibilities, Gabbert was the head coach for the Under-15 girl’s national team age group from 2004-05. Gabbert headed the new U-15 program in 2004 after serving as an assistant coach with the Under-16 U.S. National Team in 2003.
Prior to her coaching duties with the U.S. national program, Gabbert was the head coach at Iowa State from 2000-2002 and Iowa from 1996-1999. Gabbert helped usher in a new era in Iowa athletics, as she guided the women’s soccer program in its inaugural season in 1997. Competing in an already established Big Ten Conference, Gabbert led the Hawkeyes to a third-place finish and a national Top 20 ranking in only their third year of existence and for that, Gabbert was awarded the 1999 Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year honor. During that same season, Gabbert had three student-athletes earn All-Big Ten and All-America status. Gabbert began working within the Big Ten Conference in 1993 when she was hired as an assistant coach at Wisconsin. During her time with the Badgers, Gabbert was the head recruiting coordinator for a Top 20 nationally-ranked squad that won the 1994 and 1995 league championship.
“Stephanie’s return to college coaching and the Big Ten is a great addition to our staff,” Walker said. “The depth of her experience as a head coach, national teams coach and instructor in the U.S. Soccer’s Coaching Schools is exceptional.”
Gabbert’s first head coaching stint was at Northeast Missouri State (currently Truman State) from 1991-1993 and she received her initial coaching position, as an assistant coach, at her alma mater, Missouri-St. Louis in 1989.
In her 13 years of collegiate coaching, Gabbert’s other qualifications include her time as an Olympic Development Program (ODP) Regional Team coach (1996-2002) with a USSF “A” coaching license and a NSCAA National Diploma.
As a competitor, Gabbert was a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team Pool from 1987-1994. During her time as a student-athlete at Missouri-St. Louis, Gabbert was an NCAA first-team All-American and was inducted into the university’s sports hall of fame in 2005.
A native of St. Louis, Mo., Gabbert received her degree in psychology with a minor in political science in 1990 from the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
