The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Soccer
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
Sarah Barnes begins her fourth year as an assistant coach with the Longhorn coaching staff. Barnes is involved in every aspect of the program, including scouting opponents and day-to-day operations. Off the field, her main responsibilities include recruiting and video analysis of the team. On the field, Barnes primarily works with the attackers.
A graduate from the University of Connecticut, Barnes spent 10 seasons on staff at UConn under long-time head coach Len Tsantiris before coming to Austin. During her time on Tsantiris' staff, Barnes spent two seasons as a volunteer coach (1998-99), seven as an assistant coach (2000-06) and one year as the associate head coach (2007). With Barnes on the sideline, Connecticut carried a record of 167-57-17. UConn advanced to the NCAA tournament every year, including eight trips to the Third Round (Final 16), six trips to the quarterfinal (Final Eight) and an appearance in the College Cup championship game in 2003. The Huskies won six Big East Regular Season Championships and two Big East Tournament Championships during Barnes' time in Storrs.
Barnes worked with the midfielders during her first three years as a full time assistant coach. Throughout her last six seasons, Barnes also worked with the defenders and goalkeepers. Barnes trained goalkeepers Erin Rice, who led the Huskies' defense to the 2003 NCAA championship game, and Stephanie Labbe, who participated at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing with the Canadian National Team. During her time on staff, Connecticut produced nine players who earned 12 NSCAA All-American honors and six athletes who earned eight Big East Player of the Year Awards. In addition, five different Huskies played for the U.S. Youth National Teams, including Meghan Schnur who participated in the Under-19 World Cup in 2004.
Barnes holds an NSCAA Advanced National diploma, an NSCAA goalkeeping certificate and a U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) "D" license. She spent two years on the Region I Staff for the Olympic Development Program, working with the under-14 and under-16 age groups. Barnes also worked as both an assistant and head coach for the Connecticut Olympic Development Program, ranging from the U-13 to U-17 age groups. In addition to working with the state program, Barnes was the head coach for the U-15 Northeast United Club in 2003 and worked with the Eagle Elite Club for three years between 1998 and 2000. The Connecticut Junior Soccer Association named Barnes the Thomas E. Krusewski Memorial Young Coach of the Year in 2006.
Originally from Snohomish, Wash., Barnes was a senior co-captain of the 1997 UConn squad that reached the NCAA National Championship game and set a school record with 23 wins. During her four years at UConn (1994-97), the Huskies posted an impressive record of 83-14-2 and advanced to the 1997 National Championship, the national semifinal game twice (1994, 1997) and made four quarterfinal appearances. Primarily used as a holding central midfielder, Barnes finished her 85-game career with eight goals and 26 assists for 42 points. In 1997, she was named to the All-Big East Second Team, was selected by her teammates as a co-MVP and cited with the `strength and conditioning' and `student-athlete' award.
Barnes also boasted a stellar academic record. As a senior, she earned Connecticut's Vlandis Scholar-Athlete Award and the Kinsman Award, the highest award given by UConn's Counseling Program for Intercollegiate Athletics. The sociology major was enrolled in the Honor's Program and graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in May of 1998. She earned the Big East Scholar-Athlete Award and Big East and NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships. After graduation, she remained at UConn, completing her master's degree from the sociology department with an emphasis on social psychology and women in sports in 1999.
