Amy Hough WSOC Head Coach Announcement 3/23/16

Women's Soccer Matt Heffelfinger, Director of Athletic Communications

Elizabethtown hires Amy Hough as head women's soccer coach

Hough brings seven years of Division I coaching experience to the Blue Jays

ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. – Amy Hough has eagerly been awaiting her chance to lead a collegiate women's soccer program. The top assistant at NCAA Division I Lehigh University since 2011 will get her shot at Elizabethtown College. Director of Athletics Chris Morgan announced Hough's hiring as head women's soccer coach Wednesday morning.
 
"I'm excited to be named the head coach at Elizabethtown College," said Hough. "This is an institution that allows student-athletes to pursue their dreams on the field and in the classroom and it is incredibly important to me that student-athletes have a well-rounded experience: finding success on and off the field, while developing into the best person they possibly can. I want to thank Director of Athletics Chris Morgan, Dean of Students Marianne Calenda and the search committee for the opportunity to lead the Blue Jays."
 
Hough becomes the seventh head coach of a traditionally strong Elizabethtown program, which enters its 29th season of play in 2016. The Blue Jays have averaged more than 11 wins per season since debuting in 1988, winning three conference championships and appearing in seven NCAA Division III Tournaments during that time. E-town reached the Final Four in 1997.
 
"Amy rose to the top of an excellent pool of candidates," said Morgan. "Her personality, energy and passion for teaching the game will be an asset to our department. She will be an excellent role model for our student-athletes, and I am excited to welcome her as a member of our Blue Jay staff."
 
As the lead assistant to head coach Eric Lambinus at Lehigh, Hough supported all aspects of the program. She was the program's recruiting coordinator and worked closely with the Mountain Hawks' goalkeepers.
 
"I am delighted for Amy and believe this is a well deserved opportunity for her as the head coach at Elizabethtown College," stated Lambinus. "While we will definitely miss her impact at Lehigh, it became very apparent this was the next step in her development as a coach and educator. Elizabethtown is getting one of the most passionate, highly organized, team-first and self-motivated coaches I've had the pleasure to work with in my career."
 
Lehigh won 27 games with Hough on staff from 2011-15. In her first season, a youthful Mountain Hawks team went 6-9-2 overall and 2-3-1 in the Patriot League. Lehigh tied eventual league champion Army and owned a win over conference runner-up Navy. All six of the team's league games were decided by one goal or less. Two Lehigh players were named First Team All-Patriot League and freshman keeper Ashley Blanks turned in the sixth lowest goals against average in a season in team history (1.14).
 
Blanks would prosper under Hough's guidance again in 2013, posting the fifth best goals against average (1.01) in a season at Lehigh. The Mountain Hawks qualified for the Patriot League Tournament in 2012 and were in the mix for a postseason bid throughout 2013.
 
Lehigh opened 2014 with a school record six-game unbeaten streak that included a victory over archrival Lafayette and a draw against eventual Patriot League champion Boston. The Mountain Hawks registered their best defensive numbers during Hough's tenure with six clean sheets, a goals against average of 0.94 and a save percentage of .805. Keeper Ani Nahaeptian finished the year with a 0.69 GAA and .860 save percentage.
 
"I know firsthand Amy's level of commitment and I am confident she will do great things with the women's program at Elizabethtown," said Lambinus. "As a friend and colleague, I am extremely proud of Amy and am excited to follow her and the team's success in the years to come."
 
"Eric [Lambinus] and Joe Sterrett [Lehigh University Dean of Athletics] have been so supportive during both my time at Lehigh and during this process," noted Hough. "I am so grateful for their mentorship and backing, and believe the lessons and experiences there will guide me in the future."
 
Hough has more than seven years of Division I coaching experience. She transitioned from her role as a keeper with La Salle University from 2005-08, right into an assistant coaching position with her alma mater.
 
Hough spent the 2009 and 2010 seasons with the Explorers, helping lead them to just their second Atlantic 10 Semifinal appearance in program history in her final season. The 2010 team went 11-9-2 overall and knocked off third-seeded Duquesne in the conference quarterfinals.
 
Hough integrated herself in the recruiting process at La Salle, which included managing a database of more than 800 prospective student-athletes, communicating with over 100 prospective student-athletes and organizing campus visits. She was responsible for planning and conducting individual and team practices, working primarily with the goalkeepers.
 
As a player for the Explorers, Hough garnered Second Team All-Atlantic 10 honors in 2006. She was named the team's Rookie of the Year in 2005 and won the Coaches' Award in 2008. Hough finished her career with the program's second lowest goals against average in both a single-season and a career. She still ranks fifth in goals against average (1.38), seventh in shutouts (six), eighth in wins (11) and ninth in saves per game (3.84) on La Salle's all-time goalkeeping lists as of 2015.
 
Hough was a volunteer assistant coach with the Philadelphia Independence (WPS) during the 2010 season. She worked with and trained some of the top international and former collegiate players such as Karina Le Blanc, Heather Mitts, Lori Lindsay, Amy Rodriguez and Caroline Seger.
 
Hough also has experience at various camps, including OneonOne Soccer (Lancaster, Pa.) where she trained goalkeepers and field players ranging from age 8-to-21. She also served as co-director of the Explorer Girls Soccer Academy (Goalkeeping Academy) from 2008-11 and was a personal goalkeeping instructor from 2004-12. Hough is working on staff with the Eastern PA National Training Center.

Hough (formerly Grant), has roots in Lancaster County. She played her high school soccer at Cocalico, before continuing her career at La Salle.
 
A 2009 graduate of La Salle, Hough graduated Maxima Cum Laude (University Honors) with a B.A. in psychology. She completed her MBA from La Salle in 2012 with a concentration in accounting.
 
"Elizabethtown College women's soccer has a great history of success," said Hough. "I am humbled for the chance to bring my passion and love for the sport to the College and build upon that tradition of excellence."
 
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