Sarah Barnes Named Miami Head Soccer Coach
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami announced Tuesday the hiring of Sarah Barnes as the new head coach of the Hurricanes soccer program.
Barnes comes to Miami after spending six seasons as the head coach at George Washington University, where she was named the 2015 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year.
“I am excited and appreciative for the opportunity to lead the women’s soccer team at Miami,” Barnes said. “I’d like to thank Blake James and Jennifer Strawley for their belief in me and the commitment they have made to the program. This is a great time to be involved with Miami Athletics and I am honored to be a part of it.”
Over her six seasons at GW, Barnes led the Colonials to a 60-41-14 (.583) mark, including a 48-23-8 (.658) record the last four years.
In 2013, her second season at GW, Barnes guided the Colonials to their first A-10 Championship berth since 2002, beginning a streak of five consecutive years in the conference tournament.
The following year, Barnes turned in the first of four straight seasons with double-digit victories, as the Colonials finished 12-6-1 (4-3-1).
In 2015, Barnes led GW to a 15-5-0 (10-0-0) mark and the program’s first A-10 regular-season title since 1995. It was the first time in school history the team finished with a perfect conference record.
After tallying an 11-7-3 (4-3-3) record in 2016, Barnes concluded her GW tenure with a 10-5-4 (5-2-3) campaign a season ago.
“I am thrilled to welcome Sarah to the University of Miami,” Miami Director of Athletics Blake James said. “She is a proven winner who has been successful as a player, assistant coach and head coach. I am excited about the future of our soccer program under Sarah’s guidance.”
Prior to joining the Colonials, Barnes spent four seasons as an assistant at the University of Texas. The Longhorns went 47-30-12 (.596), both reaching the NCAA Championship and notching 12-plus victories three times.
Barnes started her coaching career at her alma mater, the University of Connecticut, from 1998-2007. She spent two years as a volunteer assistant, seven as an assistant coach and one as the associate head coach.
In her decade on the UConn staff, the Huskies went 167-57-17 (.728), winning six BIG EAST regular season title and two conference tournament crowns. UConn made the NCAA Championship all 10 years, advancing to the Sweet 16 eight times, the Elite Eight six times and the national championship once, in 2003.
“I was impressed with Sarah’s leadership and passion throughout the interview process and she truly stood out amongst a competitive pool of candidates,” Deputy Director of Athletics Jennifer Strawley said. “Her resume speaks for itself in what she has accomplished and I have no doubt she will be a tremendous role model and leader for our student-athletes.”
During her collegiate playing career, Barnes led UConn to a dazzling 83-14-2 (.848) record, including a school record 23 wins her final season. The Huskies made the NCAA Elite Eight every year, reaching the College Cup in 1994 and 1997, advancing to the national final the latter year.
In 1997, her last season, Barnes was a co-captain, co-team MVP and a Second Team All-BIG EAST honoree. She graduated magna cum laude from UConn in 1998 with a degree in sociology. The next year, Barnes earned a master’s degree with a dual emphasis on social psychology and women in sports.
A native of Snohomish, Wash., Barnes made the NCAA Championship 17 of 18 years as a player or coach from 1994 through 2011.
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