Coaches

Darren Ambrose

The 2023 season is the ninth for head coach Darren Ambrose, who has reinvigorated and reimagined a championship expectation of the Vanderbilt women’s soccer program since his first day on campus.


During the 2022 campaign, Ambrose led the Commodores to a 12-5-4 record and a third place finish in SEC division play. His eighth season at the helm brought eight shutouts in the first 10 matches of the season. Vanderbilt saw its fifth NCAA bid in the past six seasons and a fourth round draft pick in Ella Shamburger to the Kansas City Current.


In 2021, Ambrose led the team to an 8-8-3 record and third-place finish in the SEC East. In his seventh season at the helm of Vanderbilt soccer, the team recorded six shutouts and outscored their opponents 31-21. Following the end of the regular season, four Commodores were named All-SEC under Ambrose’s tutelage, including Raegan Kelley as a First Team honoree.


The end of the 2021 season saw the Commodores’ second-consecutive NWSL draftee in Maddie Elwell whose name was called by the Washington Spirit 15th overall.


Already one of the most successful coaches in program history, Ambrose led Vanderbilt to SEC trophies in three consecutive seasons. Starting with the 2018 SEC regular-season crown, the Commodores won the 2019 SEC East title before going on to claim the 2020 SEC Tournament championship in 2020. Along the way, Ambrose has guided the Commodores to 14 wins over nationally-ranked opponents across his first six seasons, including four victories over top-10 teams. For comparison, the Commodores had just eight wins over ranked foes before Ambrose arrived in Nashville ahead of the 2015 season.


A winner of 78 matches thus far at Vanderbilt, Ambrose already stands as the third-winningest coach in program history while averaging 11 wins per season since 2017. With a strong track record of developing talent, he has helped mentor players like Haley Hopkins and Myra Konte with Hopkins being named an All-American twice in three seasons at Vanderbilt while Konte became the first Vanderbilt player selected in the NWSL Draft in January 2021 when she was picked 30th overall by the North Carolina Courage.


The extended 2020-21 season reflected challenges the COVID-19 pandemic brought to the world, but Ambrose helped his team navigate adversity from the start to achieve his championship vision in capturing the 2020 SEC Tournament title in dominating fashion.


After fighting through a 1-3 start to the season with three one-goal losses, Vanderbilt went on to win seven of its last eight games on the way to the SEC title, the first tournament title for the Commodore program since 1994. Scoring 11 goals in eight games during the regular season, Ambrose had his Commodores ready to roll in the tournament with the program netting 14 goals across four games against top SEC competition on the way to hoisting the trophy.


Vanderbilt’s 14 goals during the 2020 tournament set a new SEC record. Along the way, the Commodores defeated Mississippi State 4-0 in the second round before taking out top-15 programs in second-seeded and 13th-ranked Tennessee 4-2 in the quarterfinals, third-seeded and eighth-ranked Texas A&M 3-1 in the semifinals and top-seeded and sixth-ranked Arkansas 3-1 in the final. With the three wins against top-15 teams, it also marked the first time in Ambrose’s six years with the program the Commodores defeated nationally-ranked opponents in three consecutive games. Thanks to momentum from the SEC title, Vanderbilt went on to earn its best national ranking in program history, checking in at No. 4 in the nation.


With the 2020 NCAA Soccer Championship moved to April and May of 2021, Vanderbilt had earned the automatic bid to the tournament thanks to the SEC title but it wasn’t done there. Punching its ticket to a fourth-straight NCAA Tournament to mark the second-longest run of consecutive tournaments in program history, Vanderbilt put an exclamation point on the journey by garnering its first-ever NCAA Tournament seed at No. 16 and reached the second round of the tournament for the third time in four seasons.


Building one of the SEC’s next powerhouse programs, 2020’s triumphs were a result of momentum built in years past when Vanderbilt won the SEC East in 2019 and the SEC regular-season title in 2018.


In 2019, Ambrose led the Commodores to a 14-5-2 record and an SEC East title for the first time since 1997. The Commodores locked up the No. 2 seed at the SEC Championship and advanced to the semifinals before falling to eventual champion South Carolina. Vanderbilt earned a trip to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight season while falling on the road at Clemson in penalty kicks. The squad posted the third-most shutouts in program history (11) and in part to an impressive 8-2 home record.


The Commodores went 16-4-1 with an 8-1-1 record in conference play during the 2018 campaign to earn their third SEC regular-season championship. It was the program’s first SEC title since 1994 and Ambrose was named SEC Coach of the Year for the team’s efforts. Vanderbilt earned its fourth straight SEC Championship appearance, receiving a bye as the No. 1 overall seed. The Dores would then go on to host a first-round NCAA Tournament match for the first time since 2005 and defeated Murray State, 4-0.


The Dores went 13-7-2 in 2017, with their 13 victories being the most since 2005 season. With a 6-3-1 SEC record. Vandy advanced to the NCAA Tournament and upset Ohio State for the team’s first tournament win since 1998. Stephanie Amack led the Dores on the season with five goals, while Kaitlyn Fahrner played 16 games in goal and allowed 15 goals against 74 saves.


In his first season with the program, Ambrose led the Commodores to an SEC Championship appearance while notching their first winning season (9-8-4) since 2009. The team’s nine wins were the most in six years. Defense set the tone in 2015, as Vanderbilt posted six shutouts for the second straight year and allowed just 23 goals, the fewest since 2006.


Before joining the Vanderbilt program, Ambrose spent 15 seasons at Penn and departed as the Quaker’s all-time winningest coach (148-71-35 overall, 54-34-17 Ivy League). His teams reached the NCAA Tournament three times and won three Ivy League championships. Ambrose-led units finished in the top three of the Ivy League in 10 of his 15 seasons, including seven of his final eight.


Ambrose never had a losing campaign in his 15 years overseeing the program, as the Quakers averaged nearly 10 wins each season. He coached the team’s first two All-Americans, as well as the program’s first NSCAA Scholar All-America, CoSIDA Academic All-America of the Year, Ivy League Player of the Year, Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year and Ivy League Rookies of the Year. In addition, Ambrose was at the helm for all of Penn’s Ivy League championships (2001, 2007, 2010), three of its four NCAA Tournament berths (2001, 2007, 2010), and an ECAC title in 2000.


In 2010, Ambrose led Penn to its second outright Ivy League championship and third overall as the Quakers went to the NCAA Championship for the fourth time in program history, falling to Big Ten champion Penn State. The next year, the Quakers enjoyed a record-setting campaign, going 14-2-1 in 2011 to tie the program record for overall wins and break the mark for winning percentage. In addition, Penn allowed a school-record seven goals and led the nation in shutout percentage.


Ambrose spent three years as the women’s and men’s assistant coach at Rhodes (Tenn.) and was an integral part of the success of programs that had a combined record of 77-33-3, a Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference championship and three second-place finishes, as well as three NCAA Tournament appearances.


Ambrose began his coaching career at Rhodes as a graduate assistant for both programs from 1993-95. He then went to Connecticut to serve as the men’s assistant coach under legendary head coach Joe Morrone before returning to Rhodes in the fall of 1996.


Ambrose, who holds a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) “A” License and a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Advanced National Diploma, has also taken an active role in soccer education programs. He served as an instructor for the Tennessee State Soccer Association, and at Rhodes he taught USSF “E” and “D” license courses to Rhodes players who were beginning their coaching careers in the local community. He has been published in the Tennessee State Soccer Journal and in the English publication for “Entering the Field,” a sociological look at the growth of soccer in the United States. Ambrose is also an instructor for NSCAA goalkeeping courses.


Born near Sheffield, England, Ambrose played soccer with the youth programs of Sheffield United of the English League Championship and Doncaster Rovers of the English League first division. He also represented the English Schools Regional Team before coming to the U.S. for his college career at Division II national power USC-Spartanburg.


While in goal for the Rifles, Ambrose garnered some impressive honors, including Adidas National Player of the Year in 1992-93. He was also the first USC-Spartanburg player to be named GTE Academic All-America in 1992-93. In 2002, Ambrose was inducted into Spartanburg’s Hall of Fame.


Ambrose earned a B.S. in management accounting at USC-Spartanburg and in 1995 completed an M.Ed. in sports administration at Memphis.


Ambrose and his wife, Sherry, have two daughters: Madison and Ainsley.

Ken Mashur

Joining head coach Darren Ambrose at Vanderbilt since the start in 2015, the 2023 season is the ninth for Ken Masuhr at Vanderbilt. Serving as the program’s associate head coach, he also coaches the defensive unit and is the team’s recruiting coordinator.


With the program since Ambrose took over ahead of the 2015 season, Masuhr was elevated from assistant coach to associate head coach in April 2018.


Helping bring a championship mentality to the program, Masuhr has helped guide Vanderbilt to SEC trophies in three consecutive seasons. Starting with the 2018 SEC regular-season crown, the Commodores won the 2019 SEC East title before going on to claim the 2020 SEC Tournament championship in 2020. Along the way, Masuhr has helped the Commodores to 14 wins over nationally-ranked opponents through the first six seasons, including four victories over top-10 teams. For comparison, the program had just eight wins over ranked foes before the arrival of the new staff in 2015.


Helping Vanderbilt to 70 victories thus far, the Commodores have averaged 13 wins per season since 2017. With a focus on the defensive side of the ball, Masuhr has developed some of the stingiest back lines in the SEC while also tutoring players like Myra Konte, who became the first Vanderbilt player selected in the NWSL Draft in January 2021 when she was picked 30th overall by the North Carolina Courage.


The extended 2020-21 season reflected challenges the COVID-19 pandemic brought to the world, but Masuhr helped the team navigate adversity from the start to achieve his championship vision in capturing the 2020 SEC Tournament title in dominating fashion.


After fighting through a 1-3 start to the season with three one-goal losses, Vanderbilt went on to win seven of its last eight games on the way to the SEC title, the first tournament title for the Commodore program since 1994.


Vanderbilt’s 14 goals during the 2020 tournament set a new SEC record, while allowing just four on the defensive side. Along the way, the Commodores defeated Mississippi State 4-0 in the second round before taking out top-15 programs in second-seeded and 13th-ranked Tennessee 4-2 in the quarterfinals, third-seeded and eighth-ranked Texas A&M 3-1 in the semifinals and top-seeded and sixth-ranked Arkansas 3-1 in the final. Thanks to momentum from the SEC title, Vanderbilt went on to earn its best national ranking in program history, checking in at No. 4 in the nation.


With the 2020 NCAA Soccer Championship moved to April and May of 2021, Vanderbilt had earned the automatic bid to the tournament thanks to the SEC title but it wasn’t done there. Punching its ticket to a fourth-straight NCAA Tournament to mark the second-longest run of consecutive tournaments in program history, Vanderbilt put an exclamation point on the journey by garnering its first-ever NCAA Tournament seed at No. 16 and reached the second round of the tournament for the third time in four season.


Building one of the SEC’s next powerhouse programs, 2020’s triumphs were a result of momentum built in years past when Vanderbilt won the SEC East in 2019 and the SEC regular-season title in 2018.


While winning the SEC East in 2019 in dominating fashion, Masuhr’s stout defense only allowed 13 goals all season – good for the second-best mark in program history. Vanderbilt also posted 11 shutouts, making that the third-best mark in program history.


The 2018 Commodores reached the NCAA Tournament and hosted a postseason game for the first time since 2005. The Commodores posted 10 shutouts along the way, increasing the total from seven in the 2017 season.


In 2017, Masuhr and the Dores had a breakthrough in making their first NCAA Tournament since the 2006 season and won the program’s first NCAA Tournament match since 1998, holding opponents to one goal or fewer in 17 of 22 games. Graduate transfer defender Stephanie Amack was named First Team All-SEC, First Team All-Southeast Region and a Second Team All-American, while then-freshman Konte earned a spot on the SEC All-Freshman team. Masuhr served as acting head coach for the Commodores’ SEC match with Missouri on September 29 in Nashville while head coach Darren Ambrose attended a family event. The Commodores won the match, 5-3, posting their highest goal total of the season.


In 2016, the Commodore defense posted four shutouts, including a 2-0 home win over No. 14 Texas A&M. Junior defender Cristina De Zeeuw was named to the second team All-SEC. She also earned a spot on TopDrawer Soccer’s Team of the Week and was named SEC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 26. The Dores brought in 10 freshmen and most of them made immediate impacts on the squad. Grace Jackson started all 19 games and was named to the SEC All-Freshman team. She led the Commodores in points (16), assists (6), game-winning goals (3) and tied for the lead in goals (5). Five freshmen scored a goal for the Commodores during the 2016 season.


In his first season at Vanderbilt, the Commodores allowed 23 goals the entire season, marking the fewest since 2006. The Dores had six shutouts throughout the year and did not concede a goal against No. 12 Ole Miss and No. 20 Kentucky.


Prior to 2015, Masuhr spent four seasons at Penn under Ambrose. In Masuhr’s four years, the Quakers never allowed more than 19 goals a season. The team led the nation in shutout percentage and set a program record by allowing just seven goals in 2011, his first season with Ambrose. In 2013, Penn recorded 12 shutouts, gave up only eight goals and went 12-1-4, setting a program record for fewest losses in a season.


In his first three seasons at Penn, Masuhr helped guide the Quakers to three top-three finishes in the Ivy League. In 2011, Penn went 14-2-1 to tie the program record for overall wins and set the mark for winning percentage. Three players were named All-Ivy all four seasons, including three straight years of three players being named First Team All-Ivy, which had never happened in the 20-plus year history of the program.


Masuhr joined Penn from Monmouth, where he spent two seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator with the Hawks. In his first season, Monmouth won the Northeast Conference (NEC) Tournament championship and advanced to the NCAA Championship first round.


Masuhr worked with the Hawks’ defensive unit, and had two players earn NSCAA All-Region honors in 2009 (Ali Kliment, Lia Fierro). Kliment also was named the NEC Defender of the Year in 2009.


Masuhr spent the 2007 and 2008 seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham. Before that, he was an assistant coach with the men’s soccer program at Kean University, helping the Cougars to a 2005 ECAC Tournament appearance.


Masuhr was also heavily involved in the youth soccer scene in New Jersey. Formerly, he was an assistant coach with New Jersey’s under-17 Girls’ Olympic Development Program team, which won regional championships in 2010 and 2011 without allowing a goal in those two years. Those teams featured 10 ODP regional players and three national team members. Masuhr also worked with Continental FC Delco in Philadelphia.


In fact, his first coaching job came when he was only 19 and still in college as he was healing from a broken leg. He coached a club team in New Jersey while he was at Richard Stockton College, making a nearly 90-minute commute each way a couple days a week.


“It was just an incredible group to be around, and basically I fell back in love with the sport again,” he said. “That experience made me want to coach and be a part of this process the rest of my life… I (also) felt it made me a more conscious player because the things I was trying to teach all of a sudden started coming out in my own game when I finally was healthy. It was a reward on both ends.”


As a player, Masuhr began his college career at Rutgers University, where he helped the Scarlet Knights win the Big East title and earn an NCAA Tournament bid in 1999. Masuhr then transferred to Richard Stockton College, where he played a role on the 2002 and 2004 Osprey teams that won New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) championships and earned NCAA Tournament berths.


Masuhr graduated from Richard Stockton with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and he also holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Kean University. As a coach, Masuhr has an “A” license from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) as well as the Premier Diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).


Masuhr lives in Nashville with his wife Megan who is the varsity girls soccer coach at the University School of Nashville, and their two children Landon and Miller.

Stacey Balaam

Stacey Balaam is in her first season as assistant coach in 2023.


Balaam joined the Commodore staff after serving as head coach the last six seasons at West Georgia, where she helped guide the Wolves to 40 victories during that span highlighted by the program’s first-ever berth in the Gulf South Conference Tournament championship match in 2021.


In all, Balaam guided West Georgia to four appearances in the GSC Tournament during her time with the program after the Wolves returned to the event last fall. During the 2021 season, she led West Georgia to a 9-8-2 record overall and a 7-6 mark in league play. The Wolves also reached the GSC Tournament each of her first two seasons at the school, going 7-7 in conference action in 2017 and 7-5-1 the following fall.


Balaam previously was an assistant at North Georgia for six seasons, helping the school go 91-24-10 overall while making five NCAA Tournament appearances in that time. Her efforts helped the Nighthawks achieve the school’s highest national ranking in program history after climbing to No. 2 in the NSCAA poll in October 2015, while the following season they advanced to the Southeast Region final in the NCAA Tournament. She also has two season experience as an assistant at Montevallo.


A 2008 Montevallo graduate, Balaam was a three-year captain and Team MVP and would end her career tied atop the school’s all-time scoring list. She earned all-conference honors all four season, was named all-region on three occasions—highlighted by being named the region player of the year as a junior—and was a two-time All-American. She was a member of the Atlanta Silverbacks team that won the 2011 W-League championship, going on to serve as the team’s captain each of the next two seasons.


Balaam was elected to Montevallo’s Hall of Fame and was also named to the Gulf South Conference’s All-Time Team.


Originally from Suffolk, England, Balaam was a member of the U19 national team prior to the start of her collegiate career. She also has served as a U.S. youth soccer scout, helping identify players to evaluate and train at National Youth Training Centers, and was a member of the NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer South Region Advisory Committee in 2019.

Daniel O'Hare

The 2023 season will be Daniel O’Hare’s first season as an assistant coach. During 2022, O’Hare served as a volunteer assistant coach under head coach Darren Ambrose.


Prior to his time at Vanderbilt, O’Hare was at Arkansas State where he spent five seasons as an assistant coach and graduate assistant with its women’s soccer program. He implemented a team-game model and strong culture of success there, as the Red Wolves claimed multiple Sun Belt Conference championships. Working closely with the goalkeepers, O’Hare helped three student-athletes earn Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year honors in his time with the school. As an assistant coach, he developed team and individual training programs for both in-season and out-of-season workouts while collaborating with student-athletes and staff to determine best practices. Off the field, O’Hare spent time working on film and analyzing training systems to deliver effective feedback to the goalkeepers.


Before his time with the Red Wolves, O’Hare spent two seasons as the director of goalkeeping for the McMinn Futbol Club in Athens, Tennessee. Overseas, O’Hare spent four years as the director of goalkeeping and assistant coach for the Wimbledon FC Regional Academy in Cork, Ireland.


O’Hare received a bachelor’s degree from Tennessee Wesleyan before earning his first master’s degree during his time at Arkansas State.

No Men's Soccer Program