Coaches

Tanya Roberts

Tanya Roberts enters her second season at the helm of Salve Regina women’s soccer after being announced as the program’s 12th head coach in June 2022. With over 15 years of coaching experience ranging from high school to NCAA Division I, Roberts is primed to carry Salve to success as it joins the NEWMAC Conference in 2023.


In her first season in Newport, the Seahawks posted a 7-10-2 overall record and 4-3-2 record in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. Roberts guided freshman Hannah Daniewicz and senior Olivia Pickard to all-conference accolades in 2022. Daniewicz was named the CCC Rookie of the Year and Second Team All-Conference as Salve’s top scorer with 7 goals and 4 assists for 18 points. Pickard, a midfielder, was named to the All-Conference Third Team.


Prior to coming to Newport, Roberts most recently spent five seasons as an assistant coach and interim head coach at fellow NEWMAC institution Wellesley. During her tenure, the Blue advanced to the 2017 NEWMAC quarterfinals and saw three players earn All-NEWMAC honors. In her final season, defender Liz Zhou was named to the United Soccer Coaches Region II Second Team.


From 2012-17, Roberts was an assistant coach at the University of Rhode Island, where the Rams reached the Atlantic 10 playoffs in 2014 and 2016. Before moving east, Roberts coached at a variety of levels in California, including a three-season stint at NAIA institution Holy Names University. As Associate Head Coach and recruiting coordinator, she helped guide the Hawks to two conference titles (2009, 2011) and a NAIA National Tournament appearance (2009).


Roberts additionally spent time at Saint Mary’s College and as the head coach at Las Lomas High School (Walnut Creek, Calif.). She began her coaching career in 2007 at her alma mater, the University of Nevada - Las Vegas, after an impressive amateur and collegiate playing career.


In college, Roberts spent three seasons competing in the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL). In 2005, she was named a WPSL Western All-Star with the Las Vegas Tabagators. Post-graduation, she added two more seasons in the WPSL.


At UNLV, Roberts was twice named All-Mountain West Conference, appearing in 83 career games with 10 goals and 10 assists. The Rebels made three NCAA Division I Tournament appearances during her career and captured two MWC Tournament titles. Roberts was named the MWC Tournament MVP in UNLV’s 2006 conference title run and earned NSCAA All-West Region accolades.


A California native, Roberts holds a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from UNLV and a Master’s of Education from Holy Names.