The UCF women’s soccer team has reached the end of an era. Amanda Cromwell has accepted the head coaching position at UCLA.
Cromwell will be taking over the reins of UCLA women’s soccer program as its head coach, after 14 years in the same position at the University of Central Florida. She replaces B.J. Snow, who left the program in December to serve as head coach of the U.S. Under-17 women’s national team.
“With all she has accomplished, it is nearly impossible to describe what Amanda Cromwell has meant to the UCF women’s soccer program,” said Todd Stansbury, vice president and director of athletics.
“She is an outstanding coach and a wonderful person. When you have a program that is as successful as Amanda’s has been, other opportunities are inevitably going to be presented. We thank Amanda for her 14 years of service to UCF and wish her all the best in the future.”
Since taking charge of the UCF women’s soccer program in 1999, Cromwell guided the Knights to a 203-83-26 record, 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, four Atlantic Sun Tournament championships, four Conference USA regular-season titles and the 2012 C-USA tournament title. With 224 career victories and a .681 winning percentage at the close of the 2012 season, Cromwell currently ranks among the top-25 winningest active coaches and the top-30 all-time winningest coaches in NCAA history.
“On behalf of the entire Bruin Family, I’d like to be the first to welcome Amanda Cromwell to UCLA as our women’s soccer coach,” said Athletic Director Dan Guerrero. “She is a former elite student-athlete and professional player and has been a very successful collegiate head coach. We look forward to having her continue the tradition of excellence in women’s soccer we have established here in Westwood.”
Cromwell led Central Florida to 12 NCAA Tournament appearances in 14 seasons, highlighted by a run to the Elite Eight in 2011 and defeat of perennial powerhouse North Carolina in the third round. Overall, UCF has appeared in NCAA Tournament 17 times – the most of any program in the State of Florida.
In addition to their accomplishments as a team, many of Cromwell’s UCF players also earned individual honors for their play. During her tenure, Knights’ players earned 96 all-conference honors and 38 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-Region selections. They also amassed nearly 300 conference academic awards during her 14 years in Orlando, including 10 NSCAA Women’s Collegiate Scholar All-American awards and one Senior CLASS Award.
“Obviously, it’s with a heavy heart that I leave UCF after so many years with the program, but I’m very excited for the opportunity ahead of me at UCLA,” Cromwell said.
“UCLA’s athletics history is rich in national championships, and I know the women’s soccer program has the ability to add to that impressive number of 108.
“My 14-year journey at UCF has been an incredible ride. I’ve been so thankful for all the support along the way. The current team is tremendous. I think it is one of the best teams we have ever had, and I am excited for what the future will bring for them.”
A native of Annandale, Va., Cromwell attended the University of Virginia and was the captain of the 1991 Cavaliers team that advanced to the Final Four. She was a two-time All-America selection, a finalist for the 1991 Hermann Trophy and a four-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference honoree.
Following her standout career in Charlottesville, Cromwell earned 55 caps while representing the U.S. Women’s National Team. She was a member of the United States’ 1995 FIFA Women’s World Cup team and an alternate for the U.S. Olympic team in 1996. She later played professionally for the Washington Freedom, Atlanta Beat and the San Jose CyberRays of the Women’s United Soccer Association.
Cromwell graduated from the University of Virginia in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in biology.