HONOLULU – University of Hawai'i head women's soccer coach Pinsoom Tenzing announced the hiring of Vanessa Works as an assistant coach with the Rainbow Wahine. Works, who will work with the squad's goalkeepers, is the second new addition to the UH soccer staff this off-season, joining Jon Kiester, who was hired in April.

 

“We're very happy to have Vanessa join the staff,” Tenzing said. “I think she'll be an exceptional coach for us. She's very committed, responsible and passionate about the sport, and all these attributes will greatly benefit our players.”

 

Works comes to Hawai'i from UNLV where she spent the 2009 season as the goalkeeper coach and second assistant. In her one year with the Lady Rebels, she helped guide standout goalkeeper Alicia Lugo, who earned All-Mountain West Conference second team honors after leading the conference in saves per game (5.26). Aside from working with the team's goalkeepers, Works other responsibilities included recruiting, student academic management and compliance, film review and exchange, player management and other daily administrative tasks.

 

Prior to joining the Rebels, Works was a two-year graduate assistant coach at her alma mater, Concordia University in Irvine, Calif. There she assisted with daily training, recruiting, scheduling practices as well as other administrative, while also serving as the team's primary goalkeeper trainer. Works' coaching experience also includes serving on the staff at The Soccer Academy in Santa Barbara, Calif., where she coached players ranging from ages 5-18; and assisting with the Region IV ODP 94 girl's age group in Nevada.

 

As a player at Concordia, Works was a four-year starting goalkeeper, and holds numerous school records including marks for most career wins and shutouts. She earned NAIA Scholar Athlete All-American and Golden State Athletic Conference Scholar Athlete honors for three straight seasons (2005-07). She was also selected team MVP in each of those three same years.

 

Works graduated cum laude from Concordia in 2007, earning a degree in exercise and sports science with a double emphasis in athletic training and rehabilitation. She also holds a master of arts degree in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia.

 

A native of Mission Viejo, Calif., Works owns a black belt in kempo karate. She and her husband, Aaron, were married in September 2009.