By ISU Sports Information
NORMAL – New Illinois State women's soccer coach Eric Golz has announced the hiring of assistant coach Ashlee Pistorius-Slayback Monday.
Slayback is a native of the Bloomington-Normal area and decorated University High School alum.
"I am thrilled to accept the assistant women's soccer coaching position in my hometown and join the Redbird family," Slayback said. "Bloomington-Normal has always been home to me, and I am proud of the success that Illinois State University continues to have in academics and athletics. The athletic department has a strong foundation and the leadership continues to strive for excellence within each program."
Slayback joins the Redbird soccer program after four years with the St. Charles Community College women's soccer team as an assistant and head coach. During her time with St. Charles Community College, Slayback prepared and executed practice plans based on individual player and team needs, while supervising and mentoring a support staff. She also has experience managing a budget, ordering equipment and creating schedules. During her four years with SCC, Slayback was responsible for all team events, as well as organizing camps and maintaining the team website.
"Ashlee is simply a fantastic addition to our staff," Golz said. "In putting this staff together, it was important to find people of character, who have an expertise in teaching the game and building relationships with our student-athletes. Ashlee will be a fantastic teacher, she has an incredibly engaging personality and will be a great role model for the young women on our team."
As an assistant and head coach with the Cougars, Slayback communicated with staff, academic advisors, officials, as well as media and opponents. She evaluated student-athletes and met with recruits and parents, while orchestrating fundraiser events and preparing media guides.
"I would like to thank Coach Golz for this opportunity," Slayback said. "His approach and vision for the soccer program made this opportunity one I could not refuse. I am excited to join Coach Golz and looking forward to meeting the players this week."
With the Cougars, Slayback led the team to the 2014 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Championship Tournament, after winning district and regional titles. She coached Raven Loughridge, who was an NJCAA All-American honorable mention in 2014.
During her time with SCC, Slayback also worked at World Wide Technology as an inside sales representative, where she sold hardware/software solutions and technical services to assigned accounts. Slayback developed relationships with customers to achieve incremental sales goals, while maintaining an expertise of the processes involved with specific programs and contracts.
Prior to St. Charles Community College and World Wide Technology, Slayback worked as the director of camp operations at St. Louis Scott Gallagher Soccer Club and was a head coach at Ursuline Academy. While at Ursuline, nine of Slayback's student-athletes continued their collegiate careers at Division I schools, while three are playing at the Division II level. She also coached National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-American Maddie Friedmann, who currently plays at Ole Miss.
In 2009, Slayback played for St. Louis Athletica, a professional soccer team in the Women's Professional Soccer League. She also worked as a coach with the St. Louis Scott Gallagher Soccer Club, and has experience as a personal trainer.
Slayback competed collegiately at Texas A&M, where she majored in sports management. While with the Aggies, Slayback was named the Honda National Soccer Player of the Year in 2007 and was one of three finalists for the M.A.C. Herman Trophy (2007). She holds the Big 12 and Texas A&M career record for points (194) and goals (81), and led the NCAA Division I in single-season goals with 25 (2007).
"Ashlee was one of the best players in University High School and Texas A&M history, and capped off her All-American career by being named the Honda National Player of the Year," Golz added. "She has a great deal of experience to offer to our team, and is going to do a great job in developing some of our attacking players. We are excited to bring Ashlee back home to Bloomington-Normal and know that she will be an integral piece of the puzzle, as we continue to grow our program."
Slayback, a native of Bloomington-Normal, attended U-High and was named the Gatorade Illinois High School Player of the Year in 2004. She holds the Illinois state record for most career goals with 228, which was third in the nation.
Slayback led the Pioneers to a a second-place finish at state in 2002 and was a four-time Chicago Tribune All-State selection, a two time NSCAA First-Team All-American and a McDonald's and Parade All-American.
