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Erica Dambach
The leadership of Penn State women’s soccer Head coach Erica Dambach continues to produce incredible success season after season. While trophies, academic awards and international achievements line the walls as evidence of a championship program, her impact on her Nittany Lion student-athletes stands as the truest testament to her teams’ culture of excellence.
The numbers that document Penn State’s success are staggering. The 2020-21 season added a 20th regular-season Big Ten Championship trophy, the 11th under Dambach’s watch.
A two-time National Coach of the Year and five-time Big Ten Coach of the Year, Dambach has led her teams to 15 NCAA Tournaments, 11 Big Ten titles, four Big Ten Tournament titles and the 2015 NCAA National Championship.
In 18 years as a head coach, 15 leading the Nittany Lions, Dambach has accumulated 283 career wins with a .704 winning percentage. In 2019, former Nittany Lion and U.S. Olympian Ali Krieger presented her with a game ball to commemorate her 250th career win not long after achieving her 200th victory as head coach at Penn State.
In the fall of 2021, Penn State made its 27th-straight NCAA Tournament appearance, moving to the third round for the fifth consecutive season and seventh time in eight seasons while recording a double-digit win total for the 28th-straight season.
The successful season was highlighted by individual accolades for the trio of captains, Kerry Abello, Sam Coffey and Ally Schlegel. All three earned All-Big Ten and All-Region recognition. Coffey closed out her collegiate career with All-American second team honors. On the academic side, Coffey and Abello were designated Scholar All-Americans and Academic All-Americans. For the second time in a row, Penn Abello was named the CoSIDA Women's Soccer Academic All-American of the Year.
While preparing for the Nittany Lions’ return to the pitch in spring 2021 after the cancellation of the traditional fall 2020 season, Dambach assisted with National Team in after the Tokyo Olympic Games were also delayed. Her commitment includes international friendlies and training camp in early summer 2021 before she departs with Team USA for the Summer Games.
The shift of the season from fall 2020 to spring 2021 gave the Penn State squad more time to prepare and Dambach’s squad responded with a Big Ten regular-season championship and went undefeated over a 10-match span. The Nittany Lions averaged 2.69 goals per game and led the Big Ten in nearly every offensive category while ranking second nationally in assists (48), third in points (134) and fourth in goals (43) and points per game (8.38), its highest-known output in available NCAA records. Individually, Sam Coffey, the only player in NCAA soccer with 30 or more goals and 40 or more assists and is the active NCAA leader with 114 points.
The Nittany Lions claimed four major Big Ten awards with five from Penn State also recognized for All-Big Ten laurels. Ally Schlegel was named the Forward of the Year, Coffey Midfielder of the Year and Eva Alonso a Co-Freshman of the Year, while Dambach was tabbed Big Ten Coach of the Year for the fifth time. In contention for national coaching staff of the year, Dambach and her staff were selected by the United Soccer Coaches as the North Regional Staff of the Year.
In addition to earning multiple conference accolades, several Nittany Lions earned national recognition. Schlegel and Frankie Tagliaferri were named United Soccer Coaches All-Americans, Schlegel with a first-team nod and Tagliaferri on the second team. Schlegel was a Honda Sports Award finalist and a semifinalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy while both Coffey (first team) and Kerry Abello (second team) were named Senior CLASS All-Americans.
Prior to the 2020-21 season, both Coffey and Abello were selected in the NWSL draft. Coffey was selected 12th overall by the Portland Thorns and Abello was selected 24th overall by the Orlando Pride. Coffey and Abello became the 14th and 15th selections in program history since the drafts inception in 2013. Penn State is one of just three programs to have at least one player selected in every draft since it began in 2013.
Dambach led Penn State to its eighth Big Ten Tournament title in 2019 as the Nittany Lions won 11-straight games en route to the championship, the longest winning streak since 2015. Dambach earned her 250th career win with a 1-0 win over Indiana during the 2019 campaign and Penn State moved to the NCAA Round of 16 or better for the seventh time in the last nine seasons.
Senior Kaleigh Riehl became the NCAA all-time leader in minutes played for a field player in 2019. Riehl was named a second-team All-American and a first-team Scholar All-America and earned her fourth All-Big Ten honor of her career. Four Nittany Lions earned all-region honors in 2019 and eight earned All-Big Ten honors highlighted by Ally Schlegel being named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
Kaleigh Riehl was selected with the 11th overall selection in the NWSL draft, marking the 13th draft selection in program history since the draft began in 2013. Riehl finished her career as one of the most decorated Nittany Lions in program history under the direction of Dambach.
In 2018, Penn State appeared in the NCAA quarterfinals for the fourth time in five seasons. The Nittany Lions won their 19th Big Ten regular-season championship in their 25th season of varsity competition. Kaleigh Riehl was named a MAC Hermann semifinalist, a first-team All-American, first-team Scholar All-American and the Big Ten Defender of the Year following the 2018 season.
Maddie Nolf and Emily Ogle were both selected in the 2019 National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) College Draft following the 2018 season. Ogle was selected 24th overall by Portland Thorns FC. Ogle was a second-team All-American, first-team Scholar All-American and Big Ten Midfielder of the Year in 2018. Maddie Nolf was selected 27th overall by the Utah Royals FC. Nolf was a three-time academic All-Big Ten selection and led the team in minutes played.
During the 2017 season, the Nittany Lions advanced to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Tournament for the third time in four seasons, and captured their seventh Big Ten Tournament title with a dramatic 2-1 win over Northwestern in Grand Park, Indiana, on Nov. 5, 2017.
Following the 2017 campaign, Frannie Crouse (No. 10 – North Carolina Courage) and Brittany Basinger (No. 21 – Washington Spirit) were selected in the 2018 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) College Draft, which extended Penn State’s streak of having at least one selection in every NWSL College Draft.
The 2016 campaign saw the Nittany Lions capture their 18th Big Ten regular-season title in 19 seasons and they advanced to their 22nd-straight NCAA Tournament. The Blue and White opened the 2016 season with a 1-1 tie against No. 6 West Virginia in front of a program-record 5,791 fans at Jeffrey Field.
Along with a program-record crowd in the season opener, Penn State captured two milestone victories during the 2016 slate. On Aug. 21, the Nittany Lions topped Hofstra, 3-1, for their 400th victory in program history, and on Sept. 9, the Nittany Lions defeated San Diego State, 3-0, for Dambach’s 200th career win as an NCAA Division I women’s soccer head coach.
During the fall of 2015, the Penn State women’s soccer team recorded a 3.49 grade-point average in the classroom to showcase academic excellence with the program’s first NCAA title and a pair of Big Ten titles.
Dambach’s squad finished the 2015 season with a 22-3-2 record, its eighth 20-win season, by defeating No. 20 Duke 1-0 in the College Cup Final on Dec. 6, 2015, in Cary, North Carolina. The NCAA title was the first in program history and the first by a Big Ten women’s soccer program.
The Nittany Lions outscored the opposition 20-0 during their 2015 NCAA Tournament run and did not allow a goal over the final 733:32 of the season.
Raquel Rodriguez capped off her historic career in the Blue & White by scoring the lone goal in the NCAA title match in the 72nd minute. Rodriguez followed up her game-winner in the title match by claiming the second MAC Hermann Trophy in program history in January 2016 (Welsh – 2001).
Rodriguez garnered NSCAA Scholar Player of the Year honors, was named the Honda Sport Award winner for women’s soccer and was tabbed a NSCAA First-Team All-American in addition to collecting the Hermann Trophy.
Following the 2015 season, Dambach received NSCAA Coach of the Year honors for the second time in her Nittany Lion career (2012).
In January 2016, all three Nittany Lion captains were selected in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) draft. Rodriguez was selected with the No. 2 pick by Sky Blue FC, Mallory Weber went to the Western New York Flash at No. 14 and Britt Eckerstrom was the first goalkeeper selected at No. 26 by the Western New York Flash.
A 10th NCAA Tournament semifinal appearance and the seventh 20-win season program history define the 2014 season. Penn State, which had an 11-member freshman class, earned its third outright conference title in four years, maintaining a top-11 national ranking throughout the season and defeating five top-25 opponents.
Under Dambach’s direction, picking up her third Big Ten Coach of the Year award, Penn State collected three of four Player of the Year awards. Whitney Church, the conference’s Defender of the Year, was named a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist and an NSCAA All-America first-team selection before she became the 30th overall pick in the NWSL draft by the Washington Spirit. Also earning individual Big Ten awards were Raquel Rodriguez, who bagged Midfielder of the Year honors, and Emily Ogle, the Freshman of the Year.
The Nittany Lions appeared in their 19th-straight NCAA Tournament in 2013, due in part to the success of senior Maya Hayes. The sixth-overall selection in the NWSL draft, Hayes set Penn State’s single-season record for points (79) and finished her career ranked third in goals scored (71) and points (163), sixth in game-winning goals (17) and seventh in shots (291). Hayes also became the seventh MAC Hermann Award Trophy semifinalist in program history.
Dambach’s 2012 Nittany Lions were, at the time, the most successful team in program history after advancing to their first-ever national title game. The Nittany Lions won 21 of 27 games and were unbeaten in Big Ten action with a 10-0-1 record. The Lions registered their 15th consecutive Big Ten title and 18th-straight NCAA Tournament appearance. The 15-title mark stands as the most consecutive Big Ten Championships by a women’s program, along with the Northwestern tennis team (1999-2014).
Senior Christine Nairn became the seventh Nittany Lion to finish as a finalist for the prestigious Missouri Athletic Club’s Hermann Trophy in 2012 under Dambach’s tutelage, while junior Maya Hayes was named a semifinalist for the award.
Dambach’s success was recognized at the conference and national level as she earned Big Ten Coach of the Year and NSCAA National Coach of the Year honors.
Her 2011 team was a dominant force, winning 21 of 26 matches, while out-scoring opponents 70-24. Penn State was 10-1-0 in Big Ten action and posted the seventh undefeated season at Jeffrey Field (9-0). Dambach helped guide the Lions to their 14th-straight Big Ten title and a spot to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2007.
With Dambach’s guidance, sophomore Maya Hayes became the nation’s most prolific scorer in soccer in 2011 and was a finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy. Hayes led the nation with 31 goals and 70 points, breaking the Penn State single-season record for points.
During the 2011 summer, Dambach had an extraordinary experience of being one of the top assistants to Pia Sundhage and the 2011 United States women’s national team at the FIFA World Cup in Germany. The U.S. made a sparkling run through knockout play to the final, falling to eventual champion Japan.
During the 2010 season, Dambach’s young club made a remarkable turnaround mid-season, overcoming a two-game deficit in the league standings over the final weeks to capture a share of its 13th straight Big Ten title.
After a tough 2-4 start to the 2009 season, Dambach led the Nittany Lions to a remarkable turnaround, going 10-1-2 in the last 13 games of the regular season, earning her the 2009 Big Ten Coach of the Year Award for her efforts.
With the impressive end to the season, Dambach and her charges captured the program’s 12th straight Big Ten Championship. By winning the Big Ten, the Nittany Lions continued their string of NCAA Tournament berths, making their 15th straight appearance in the 64-team field in 2009. For the second time in three years, Penn?State hosted the first and second rounds of tournament play.
Dambach also orchestrated one of the finest awards seasons in Penn State history when Katie Schoepfer, Alyssa Naeher and Christine Nairn swept the year-end Big Ten Player of the Year awards. Schoepfer was named the Offensive Player of the Year, Naeher the Defensive Player of the Year and Nairn the Freshman of the Year. Danielle Toney was named to the All-Big Ten first team, while Lexi Marton garnered a second-team mention. Dambach coached two players of the year to three awards as Naeher was also the 2007 recipient of the Defensive Player of the Year honors in Dambach’s first year in Happy Valley.
Dambach continued her success from the 2007 campaign into a 16-8-0 record that saw Penn State capture its 11th straight Big Ten Championship and the 2008 Big Ten Tournament crown.
Her transition to Penn State was quite smooth as the 2007 team finished 18-4-2, including a 9-1-0 mark in conference play, and was ranked 12th in the final NSCAA poll of the season.
When she came to Penn State, Dambach brought with her a wealth of experience at both the international and collegiate levels. She already had coached at six different universities, including three stints as head coach, and served as an assistant for the U.S. U-19 team in 2004. Dambach guided the U-17 team as its head coach from December 2004 until her arrival at Penn State in February 2007.
As of January 2009, Dambach was appointed as a member of the Panel of Instructors and Lecturers for FIFA Courses. In addition, she was appointed as the Chairman of the Women’s Technical Committee for the period of January 1, 2009 to June 30, 2011.
In January of 2008, Dambach was named by Pia Sundhage as the assistant coach for the U.S. National Team. With Dambach’s help and guidance, the U.S. team completed its historic run with a gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. Even sweeter was that Dambach’s main responsibility was the U.S. team’s defense, which held fellow world power Brazil scoreless in the gold medal game.
The head coach at Harvard University as well as the U.S. Under-17 team prior to her hiring at Penn State, Dambach has consistently been active among the coaching ranks both at the NCAA Division I level and the U.S. Youth National Team program for nearly a decade. Prior to her time with the Crimson, she was part of a Florida State staff that led the Seminoles to one of their most successful years to date. FSU joined Penn State in the 2005 Women’s Soccer College Cup, with both programs reaching the national semifinals.
Dambach’s coaching path began in 1997 as a graduate assistant at Bucknell University. In 1998, she accepted a position at Dartmouth, where she was an assistant coach for two seasons. After helping the team to a final NSCAA ranking of No. 8 at the conclusion of the team’s 1998 NCAA quarterfinal run, as well as an Ivy League championship in 1999, Dambach assumed head coaching duties before the 2000 season.
As head coach, Dambach led the Big Green to back-to-back Ivy League co-championships in 2000 and 2001. Her squad was ranked in the NSCAA’s top 25 each year, rising as high as No. 13 in 2001. In her three seasons as head coach, Dartmouth was invited to the NCAA Tournament each season and reached the round of 16 twice. All three of her teams earned the NSCAA’s Academic Team Award.
Dambach left Dartmouth to earn her master’s in business administration at Lehigh University where she served as a graduate assistant from 2003-04.
Beginning in the spring of 2004, Dambach joined the United States Under-19 team as an assistant coach where she helped with preparations for the Under-19 World Cup. The U.S. finished with the bronze medal in Thailand after defeating Brazil in the third-place match. After the World Cup, Dambach was appointed the U.S. National Team’s U-17 head coach, a position she held for three years.
As a player, Dambach was an NSCAA All-Region selection at William & Mary. A two-time first-team All-CAA pick, she propelled her team to four NCAA Tournament appearances as well as two CAA regular season and two CAA league championships. In March of 2010, Dambach’s alma mater, William & Mary, honored her by inducting her into the W&M Athletics Hall of Fame.
A high school All-American at Lower Moreland, she was also a member of the U.S. Under-17 National Team.
Dambach earned her Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in biology from William & Mary in 1997. The Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, native holds an NSCAA Advanced National Degree and a USSF “A” Coaching License.
The former Erica Walsh married Jason Dambach in January 2016, and they currently reside in State College, Pennsylvania. Erica and Jason have two daughters, Addie and Kylie.
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