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University of Texas at Dallas

UT Dallas Department of Athletics
 800 West Campbell Rd., AB14 Richardson, TX 75080
Division 3 Texas South
Public Very Large Competitive team
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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.

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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.

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