Andy Tunnicliffe Joins Texas State Women’s Soccer Staff

By, Phillip Pongratz

SAN MARCOS, Texas – Texas State women’s soccer head coach Kat Conner announced the hiring of Andy Tunnicliffe as the new assistant coach. He comes to San Marcos after serving as the head coach of the New Braunfels Ajax Youth Soccer program since April.

“Coach Tunnicliffe brings extensive international and national experience to the program along with possessing a wealth of knowledge and skill that translates into a high level of energy and true passion,” said Conner. “His abilities to connect with players instills a positivity that will inspire players to achieve championship goals and will greatly impact the power of the soccer program.”

From September 2015 to February of 2016, he was an academy coach with Everton F.C. of the English Premier League. His duties in England included coaching, scouting and recruiting of all youths for U6 through U16 teams.

Tunnicliffe is no stranger to the Central Texas area after serving three seasons as the head coach at Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas from 2012-14. During his time in the state capital, he compiled an 18-29-6 record that included the program’s first-ever appearances in the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament semifinals in the 2013 and 2014 campaigns.

The 2014 season saw him produce the most successful season in program history with a 10-8-2 overall record and a 7-2 mark in conference play to finish tied for second and earn him RRAC Coach of the Year. Four players were honored as all-conference selections and two were named to the all-tournament team.

Before entering the collegiate coaching ranks, Tunnicliffe served as a head coach of U12-18 boys and girls teams with Lonestar Soccer Club, as well as being the Director of the South Junior Academy program from June 2009 to July 2012. The previous six years he was the director of soccer coaching for the BAFC/FC Arsenal out of Bastrop, Texas.

For more information on the Texas State soccer team, visit the official website of Texas State Athletics at www.txstatebobcats.com, like on Facebook at Texas State Soccer and follow on Twitter at @TxStateSoccer.

Phillip Pongratz