UC Davis Hires Tracy Hamm as Women’s Soccer Head Coach
Highly acclaimed, and an amazing role model, Tracy Hamm is one of only two American women to hold the prestigious United European Football Association “A” Coaching License. Nearly 50,000 coaches currently possess the UEFA “A” License, but only one percent of those are women.
College Soccer News: Tracy Hamm, the head coach of the San Francisco State women’s soccer program for the last four seasons, has been named UC Davis’ new head coach, as announced by Director of Athletics Kevin Blue on Monday.
“Coach Hamm is a rising star in women’s soccer with a strong foundation of experience as a successful head coach,”
UC DavisDirector of Athletics Kevin Blue
“She will lead our program with extraordinary energy and passion and is a dynamic role model for our women’s soccer student-athletes,” said Blue.
The Turnaround Coach: Hamm took over as head coach of San Francisco State’s program in January of 2015 and immediately turned around the failing program which had posted a winning overall record only twice in the previous 11 years. Hamm successfully transformed the Women’s Soccer Team and its culture into a winning mentality.
Hamm successfully guided the Golden Gators to four consecutive winning campaigns, including back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2017 (10-5-3) and 2018 (10-6-3).
“I am excited and humbled for the opportunity to coach at this amazing university,” Hamm said. “As a Bay Area native, I have always respected and admired the high standard for academics within the athletic department. I know what the women’s soccer program is capable of achieving and it is such an
WHAT AMERICA’s TOP COACHES ARE SAYING ABOUT TRACY HAMM…
“Tracy is an exceptional coach, an outstanding leader of people, and has dedicated her coaching life to education, ensuring that her teams — and the women within — are successful. There is no one who deserves this opportunity more.”
Neil McGuire, Head Women’s Soccer Coach, University of California
“Tracy Hamm has earned a terrific opportunity to be at a program like UC Davis. She cares and is a competitor. The Aggies got a winner in Tracy Hamm.”
Lesle Gallimore, Head Women’s Soccer Coach, University of Washington
“Tracy’s professional playing experience, tactical knowledge, and ability to passionately lead, will provide the women she coaches a foundation for success on and off the field.”
Keidane McAlpine, Head Women’s Soccer Coach, University of Southern California
More On Tracy Hamm
Known for caring about her players on and off the field, Hamm impacted San Francisco State women’s soccer program on the field and in the classroom, helping student-athletes earn 48 CCAA All-Academic Team awards, 14 All-CCAA women’s soccer
Sporting an overall record of 36-25-12 in her four years at the helm, including winning records in the always difficult California Collegiate Athletic Association in each of the last two seasons, Hamm led San Francisco State to a berth in last season’s CCAA tournament for the first time since 2010, advancing on penalty kicks over Cal State San Marcos in the first round before facing No. 10 UC San Diego in the semifinals.
Tracy Hamm’s experiences as a soccer coach have also been made into a movie. CoachTheMovie: Years ago, she was denied the opportunity to pursue a top-tier coaching license. She did it anyway. This is her story.
Prior to her arrival in San Francisco, the Moraga, Calif., native served as head coach at Santa Rosa Junior College from 2012-14, leading the Bear Cubs to an impressive 42-15-7 overall record, a 2012 Big 8 Conference title, and consecutive berths in the second round of the California Community College Athletic Association playoffs.
A four-year letter winner herslef for the Golden Bears from 2002-06, Hamm was a three-time Pac-10 All-Academic Team selection (2003-05) and two-year team captain (2004-05), starting every match on the back line for California throughout her final two seasons. Throughout her career with the Golden Bears, she played a key role in their to three NCAA Tournament berths (2002, 2004-05).
Hamm led the team with nine goals and was named Cal’s Freshman of the Year before earning United Soccer Coaches All-West Region honors two years later as part of a record-setting defense in 2005. That year, she helped the Golden Bears set the school mark for team goals against average (ranking seventh in the NCAA at 0.48), while tying the record for fewest goals allowed (11) and shutouts (14) in a season.
Following her collegiate career, she played professionally in the Women’s Professional Soccer for FC Gold Pride after being selected in the fourth round of the 2008 WPS General Draft. She also represented the Atlanta Beat in 2009.
Hamm graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from California in 2006, and holds two master’s degrees: an Ed.M. in counseling specializing in sport psychology from Boston University (2011) and a master’s in coaching an athletic administration from Concordia University (2014).
Source: UC Davis Press Release
