Head women's soccer coachm Tim Walters announced Ashley Holland as the program's new assistant coach on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. Holland spent the last year as an assistant coach at UT San Antonio, leading the Roadrunners to a 12-6-4 record and an NCAA Tournament appearance after winning the Conference USA Championship.
"I'm so happy to add someone with Ashley's experience and character to our program," said Walters. "Everyone who has worked with her speaks very highly of her and what she will bring to Omaha."
Prior to her time at UTSA, Holland was an assistant coach at East Carolina for the 2021 season, helping the team to eight wins including a 2-1 triumph over No. 23 Memphis. Before East Carolina, she was a goalkeeper coach at IMG Academy for a year, instructing U-13 and U-19 athletes, as well as US Youth National Teams and the Puerto Rico Senior National Team.
Holland had a three-year stint as head coach at LSU Shreveport from 2017-2020, going 26-24-5 and leading the team to its first ever Red River Athletic Conference Championship and an NAIA National Tournament berth in 2018. At the same time, she was also the head club coach and goalkeeper director for FC Dallas East Texas Club from 2018-2020 and an assistant coach and goalkeeper coach for the Shreveport Lady Rafters of the WPSL in 2017.
Holland's first coaching position was as an assistant coach and goalkeeper coach at her alma mater, Benedictine from 2015-17. She helped guide the team to a 42-6-1 record, winning a pair of Heart of America Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championships, and reaching the NAIA National Tournament Semifinals for the first time in 2015.
During her playing career at Benedictine, Holland appeared in 65 games as the Ravens' goalkeeper, going 45-10-5 with 24 career shutouts. As a senior, she played a major role in getting Benedictine a top-10 ranking in NAIA and an NAIA Quarterfinals appearance. For her efforts she was named HAAC Defensive Player of the Year and made All-HAAC First-Team for the second time. With Holland in goal, the Ravens won two HAAC regular season championships and a HAAC Championship title.
"She has had some great experiences as a coach, including a number of years as a head coach, as well as coaching last year in the NCAA tournament," added Walters. "It's great to be able to get someone with her experience who is also originally from the area, who already knows and cares about Omaha."
Holland earned a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Athletic Training and Physical Education from Benedictine in 2014. She later earned her Master's in Business Administration degree from Benedictine in 2017.
