University of Texas at Dallas

Richardson, TX 75080

Texas South

Public Very Large Developing team

I'm interested in this program!

Coaches

Email coach

Stephen Shirley

Stephen Shirley was named the head women's soccer coach at UT Dallas in January 2023.

In his first season, the Comets went 9-2-7 overall and 2-1-5 in the American Southwest Conference, placing fourth. Shirley's 2023 squad started the season 9-0-6, including eight consecutive shutouts, breaking the school record for longest unbeaten streak at 15 games. He coached two United Soccer Coaches All-Region selections and eight all-conference picks along with the ASC Goalkeeper of the Year.

During the 2021 and 2022 seasons as an assistant with the men's team, the Comets compiled a 19-11-8 record and reached the ASC Championship Semifinals both seasons. Shirley has coached 16 All-ASC selections and four All-Region picks.

A former volunteer assistant for the Comets, Shirley came to the Comets after serving as the Director of Coaching for the North Texas Celtic Futbol Club in Denton, where he led the development of players from the age of 10 to 18 years old and expanded the organization from 15 to 45 teams.

A native of Aberdeen, Scotland, Shirley represented the USA national team at under 18 and under 20 levels. He was drafted by Sporting KC, then Kansas City Wizards, with the No. 29 overall pick in the 2006 MLS Draft and spent two seasons with the squad before making stops with the Rochester Rhinos of the United Soccer League and Montrose FC in Scotland.

Shirley's first coaching stop was with Montrose, serving as the team's Director of Soccer Academy and reserve team Assistant Coach. He spent two seasons with the Comets as a volunteer coach from 2016-17, helping guide UTD to an ASC regular season title and a trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament in 2016.

He began his collegiate playing career at the University of Mobile in Alabama while he helped his squad to an NAIA National Championship in 2002. Shirley then transferred to Virginia Commonwealth University, where he served as a starter the Rams and led VCU to the NCA A Division I Sweet 16 in 2003 and the Elite 8 in 2004. As a senior for the Rams, he was a first team all-conference pick and a Second Team All-American.

Shirley has his class "A" coaching license from the United States Soccer Federation and received his bachelor's degree from the University of North Texas in 2011, double majoring in Political Science and recreation and Leisure Studies.

Email coach

Rachel Holden

Rachel Holden joined the UT Dallas women's soccer staff as an assistant in March 2023 after a successful playing career at the NCAA Division I level.

In her first season, the Comets went 9-2-7 overall and 2-1-5 in the American Southwest Conference, placing fourth. The squad started the season 9-0-6, including eight consecutive shutouts, breaking the school record for longest unbeaten streak at 15 games. Holden coached two United Soccer Coaches All-Region selections and eight all-conference picks, including the ASC Goalkeeper of the Year.

Holden was inducted into the University of North Texas Athletics Hall of Fame in October 2022. She was a four-year starter and four-time All-Conference USA selection from 2013-16, including three years on the First Team. Holden is the only player in UNT history to earn conference Offensive Player of the Year Award twice, earning it in 2013 and 2015. She was also the Conference USA Freshman of the Year in 2013 and earned All-Region honors in 2013 and 2015. Holden earned Conference USA All-Academic honor her final three years with the Mean Green.

Holden helped her team to a 64-21-4 record during her four seasons, winning three CUSA championships during that time. Holden started 85 games in her career, which ranks seventh in school history. She ranks sixth all-time at North Texas with 38 career goals and ninth all-time with 86 career points. Holden is tied for second in UNT history for game-winning goals with 16. She ranks eighth all time at North Texas for career shots with 215 and fourth all-time at North Texas for career shots on goal with 40. Following her Mean Green career, Holden played in Sweden for IFK Östersund in 2018.

After her playing career, Holden served as a coach for North Texas Celtic FC beginning in 2019, she also was a skills coach in Corinth, Texas and a Camp Gladiator fitness trainer.

Holden, from Lancaster, Texas, was a four-star player and ranked No. 31 in the state by Top Drawer Soccer as a high school player for Marantha Christian and Sting96.

She graduated from UNT with a B.S. in Kinesiology and a Health minor in 2016.

Email coach

Jason Hirsch

Jason Hirsch took over the UT Dallas men’s soccer program in 2013 and in 11 seasons he has led the Comets to four American Southwest Conference championships and five trips to the NCAA Division III National Tournament.

A longtime assistant under Hall of Fame Comet coach Jack Peel, Hirsch was named just the second coach in program history in May 2013. He currently boasts a 129-46-30 (.702) record in his 11 seasons as at the hlem, leading the squad to five ASC regular season titles as well. He is 70-16-17 (.762) against ASC opponents in his 10 seasons. He was tabbed the ASC Coach of the Year after the 2016, 2018 and 2019 campaigns.

In 10 seasons at the helm, Hirsch has mentored 28 Comets to USC All-Region recognition and one All-American. He has coached 80 players who have earned All-ASC honors. In addition, Hirsch has mentored a pair of USC Scholar All-Americans and one CoSIDA Academic All-American. Since 2013, UTD has had six ASC Offensive and Defensive Player of the Award honorees, as well as two ASC Goalkeepers of the Year and one ASC Midfielder of the Year.

In 2019, Hirsch led the Comets to a school-record 17 wins.

Career Record (2013-23, 11 seasons) --- 129-46-30 (70-16-17 ASC)

ASC Tournament Championships: 4 (2015, 2016, 2019, 2023)

ASC Regular Season Championships: 4 (2014, 2016, 2018, 2019)

ASC Division Regular Season Championships: 1 (2020)

ASC Championship Tournament Appearances: 11 (2013-23)

NCAA Division III Championship Tournament Appearances: 5 (2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2023)

While serving as an assistant coach for six seasons under Jack Peel, Hirsch served as the program's recruiting coordinator and planned practice sessions for daily training. Over those six seasons, the Comets boasted 40 All-ASC picks, including 16 selections to the first team.

Hirsch was a team captain and All-ASC First Team selection en route to guiding the Comets to the league title in 2004. Before becoming a full-time assistant, he was a volunteer coach following his senior year in 2005. A native of Plano, Hirsch graduated from Plano West High School before earning a finance degree from UTD in 2005 and his master’s from UTD in 2011. He holds a Class "B" coaching license from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) and an Advanced National license from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).

Email coach

Jude Anuwe

Former UT Dallas men's soccer player Jude Anuwe was added to the coaching staff as an assistant in March 2023.

In his first season, the Comets won the American Southwest Conference title and advanced to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. UTD went 10-6-5 overall and 4-3-1 in league play. Anuwe coached eight all-conference selections, including the ASC Offensive Player of the Year, and one USC All-Region pick.

Anuwe spent three and a half years teaching and coaching. He was the assistant boys coach and Environmental Science teacher at JJ Pearce High School in Richardson, assistant boys coach and Biology teacher at Richardson High School and a volunteer assistant and eighth grade Science teacher in the Lake Highlands Independent School District.

A midfielder for the Comets in 2016 and 2017, Anuwe appeared in 33 games, recording five goals and three assists. He helped UTD to a 24-11-4 overall record, including an American Southwest Conference title and trip to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament as a junior. Anuwe was an Academic All-ASC selection as a senior.

Prior to his time at UTD, Anuwe spent a season each at Concordia University Texas in Austin and Waynesburg University in Pennsylvania.

A native of Dallas and graduate from Richardson High School, Anuwe earned his B.S. in Science Education from UT Dallas in 2019.

University of Texas at Dallas

Coaches

Stephen Shirley

Rachel Holden

Jason Hirsch

Jude Anuwe

How can I contact this coach?

I'm intersted in this program...now what?