UNLV WOMEN’S SOCCER ADDS ANDY PRINGLE, EMILY GRANT AND COURTNEY IRWIN TO COACHING STAFF
Pringle promoted from volunteer to full-time assistant, Grant and Irwin are first-year members of the Rebels
UNLV women’s soccer head coach Chris Shaw announced his first coaching staff on Monday as Andy Pringle has been promoted from volunteer to full-time assistant coach, Emily Grant will be the second assistant coach, and Courtney Irwin has been hired as the director of operations. Shaw also announced that Erica Meier, a midfielder on the team the past three years until injuries ended her playing career, will serve as undergraduate assistant coach for the 2014 season.
Pringle first joined the UNLV staff as a volunteer assistant/goalkeeper coach in February 2013. He was promoted to full-time assistant in spring 2014 and led the team during the head coaching transition, and then was kept on the staff by Shaw and elevated to the top assistant position. Pringle’s roles with the team will include: goalkeeper training, scouting opposition, assisting with recruitment, assisting with training and development of players in practice and game settings, and game day organization. As the goalkeeper coach in 2013, he oversaw Kylie Wassell to a season that included five shutouts, 86 saves and a GAA of just 1.16 in over 2,000 minutes play, while also being named all-conference.
“I’m excited about having Andy move into a full time position with the program,” said Shaw. “He has demonstrated an unquestionable commitment to the program over the last year and will provide some continuity for the team. In addition, his knowledge of the game, state and regional contacts, and top notch goalkeeper coaching experience will be invaluable to the program moving forward.”
Before moving to Las Vegas in 2012, Pringle built an extensive club and high school coaching resume in Southern California and still runs a goalkeeper school there. In addition to his role at UNLV, he now works as the Director of Coaching for a local club as well as goalkeeper coach for Nevada ODP. He currently holds a USSF C license and NSCAA Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma. Pringle is also currently attending classes at UNLV while working on his degree. Growing up in Newcastle, England, Pringle was a product of the Newcastle United youth system, enjoying four years there before moving on to several other professional clubs. In the U.S., he won the U19 National Championship with Nomads of San Diego and played in the A-League and USL.
Grant comes to UNLV from Nashville, where she was a club coach for the U-10 and U-14 girls at Tennessee Soccer Club since September of 2012, helping guide the U14 squad to the state cup title as an assistant coach. Prior to her coaching position, Grant was a two-time team captain for Vanderbilt University, which she helped reach two SEC tournament quarterfinal rounds during her career from 2008-11. She was named Overall MVP as a senior, and following graduation was captain for the Philadelphia Fever of the WPSL in the summer of 2012. She received her bachelor of arts degree in classics from Vanderbilt in May 2012.
“Emily is a young and up and coming coach that has a passion for the game and a great work ethic,” said Shaw. “She has a great playing background at a high level and her insight as a former player will prove very beneficial in her role at UNLV.”
Irwin was a four-year All-WAC Academic player for New Mexico State from 2009-13. She started a total of 76 games in her career and earned the team’s defensive and overall MVP awards her senior year while also serving as the team captain. Irwin played for two assistant NMSU coaches that also have been assistant coaches at UNLV, Stephanie Rigamat and Cortney Sobrero. She received her bachelor of science degree in community health from New Mexico State in May 2013. Most recently she held a pair of jobs in Utah, working for Lets Play Gardner Village Indoor Soccer and as a representative at Crossroads Fitness before joining the UNLV staff.
“Courtney is a former Division 1 player with a great work ethic and desire to get into the college game,” said Shaw. “She will be instrumental in assuring that the women’s soccer program day to day operations are running smoothly and efficiently. Erica meanwhile was a fantastic player that unfortunately had her college career ended prematurely due to injuries. When she expressed an interest in staying involved with the program, I thought it would be a great opportunity to have someone on staff that knows that team inside and out and can serve as a bridge between the coaching staff and current team.”