July 31, 2010

New head soccer coach Daniel Brizard adds Rachel Yepez to his staff as an assistant coach

Yepez, a graduate of Louisiana State University and a decorated former player for LSU, will enter her first year as an assistant coach this season.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Rachel Yepez joins the Tennessee Tech athletic department staff as the new assistant women’s soccer coach, effective August 1. She will shoulder responsibilities including on-field training, recruiting, strength and conditioning coordination and academic advisement.

“I am incredibly excited to be working with Rachel in a new capacity,” said head coach Daniel Brizard, who worked with Yepez formerly in a coach/athlete context at LSU. “She has an outstanding history as a player at LSU, and will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge with her to Tennessee Tech.

“Rachel is extremely dedicated, hard-working and passionate, particularly when it comes to soccer. She has undoubtedly put herself in a position where she will be able to influence younger players, and develop herself extensively as a coach.”

A Fayetteville, N.C., native, Yepez is honored as one of the most prolific scorers in Louisiana State’s program history. A forward who made 76 starts in 83 career appearances in four seasons with the Tigers, she scored 33 goals and recorded 19 assists for 85 points in her collegiate career. Yepez finished at LSU ranked fifth in career appearances and tied for seventh in career starts.

Additionally, she was the third-leading goal scorer and point scorer in program history, and ranked fourth in team history in career assists. She also set school records for shots (219) and shots on goal (108) in a single career.

Yepez was a member of the most successful senior class in the history of the LSU soccer program. She helped to guide the Tigers to three SEC Western Division championships and three NCAA Tournament appearances in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Her senior class also recorded a class record of 50 wins during its tenure from 2006-09.

An honorable mention All-American selection by TopDrawerSoccer.com in 2007, a two-time all-region performer by Soccer Buzz, including second-team honors in 2007 and third-team honors in 2008, and a third-team all-region performer by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America in 2007, Yepez remains one of the most decorated players in LSU history. A four-year letterwinner, she also maintained a community presence and was selected to the SEC Community Service Team in 2008 and 2009, as well as was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll in each of her last two seasons with the Tigers.

“I’m so thankful for the opportunity to work with Coach Brizard at Tennessee Tech,” said Yepez. “I’m eager to meet the players and start working toward a great season in the Ohio Valley Conference.”

Yepez graduated from LSU in May of 2010 with her Bachelor of Arts in sports administration.