Hudson named head women’s soccer coach

A coach with experience at the semi-professional, NCAA Division I and club ranks will be the next head women’s soccer coach for UCCS.

Sian Hudson brought 15 years of coaching experience to UCCS when she started Jan. 9

“I first would like to thank Athletic Director Nathan Gibson for giving me this opportunity,” Hudson said. “I am extremely honored and excited to be taking this position. Having been a part of the local soccer community in Colorado Springs for the past 14 years, I have been able to witness firsthand the tremendous growth of UCCS. There is a sense of excitement and enthusiasm surrounding both the school and athletic department. I look forward to working with our student-athletes to build a winning culture.”

Hudson spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach for NCAA Division I Colorado College. She assisted in every aspect of the program and was a member of the staff that led the Tigers to the semifinals of the 2015 Mountain West Conference Tournament. She coached 17 student-athletes in two seasons who received Mountain West academic awards.

Hudson was the general manager for the Colorado Pride W-League Team during the team’s first two seasons in 2014 and 2015. She also served as the assistant coach for the 2014 season and took the reigns as the head coach for the 2015 campaign. Hudson led the team to the conference championship in 2015 and had four players drafted into the National Women’s Soccer League between the drafts in 2014 and 2015, four of whom played professionally overseas, and four of whom were named to the National Team in Australia and the United States for the 2016 Olympic Games and 2016 FIFA Under-20 World Cup.

Hudson served as the senior girls director of coaching for Pride Soccer Club and head coach of the Pride Predator teams in Colorado Springs from 2002 through 2015. As senior director of coaching, she oversaw three full-time directors of coaching and 25 additional coaches among more than 40 competitive teams. Hudson won 11 state championships, one regional championship and was a 2014 national semifinalist with the Pride Predators 99 team. She coached two youth national team players and had eight players who were involved in the national team pool. Hudson also started the program’s college placement coordinator in 2010 to educate parents and players on the college recruiting process.

Hudson played on the Wales National Team and became the youngest full international player on the team at the time at age 16. She made three appearances at the senior level in the European Championships from 1997 through 1999 and 10 appearances at the UEFA Championships as a captain for the under-19 team. Hudson won five senior league championships, three league cups and the Welsh Cup for the Newport County Ladies Club Team from 1995 through 2000.

Hudson earned her bachelor’s degree in sports coaching science, majoring in sport psychology, from Cardiff Metropolitan University in 2002. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in sports coaching from the University of Denver. She holds her U.S. Soccer Federation B License, and the UEFA C License and Goalkeepers Award.

“We’re proud to add someone with Sian’s caliber and local reputation to our coaching staff at UCCS,” Gibson said. “Her ability to recruit, develop and coach has been proven at multiple levels, and we’re excited to see what the future holds for our Mountain Lion women’s soccer program.”