The Pointer UW-Stevens Point Student Newspaper
Dawn Crow knows a thing or two when it comes to being successful within the highest levels of women’s soccer.
Crow is taking on her newest challenge as head coach of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point women’s soccer team this fall.
She has a long list of achievements throughout her career, including four national championships during her time at the University of North Carolina. Not only a coach, Crow was a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team, as well as playing professionally for the former Charlotte Speed.
Crow also has coached in a variety of positions for schools at the Division 1 NCAA level. More recently she had been coaching at Plano East Senior High School, where she lead her 2008 team to the school’s first-ever state appearance. During her time in Plano, Crow was also a youth coach for the MLS team FC Dallas, where she was the 2009 runner-up for Dallas Club Coach of the Year.
Courtesy of Jack McLaughlin.
Although soccer is a focal point of her background, Crow was initially intrigued with the coaching job here at UWSP for reasons that had nothing to do with soccer.
“It had a lot more to do with family,” Crow said. “We just had twins. They’re 14 months old now, and in Dallas, I was doing a whole bunch of stuff and didn’t feel like I was making the best use of my time and valuing my family.”
Crow heard nothing but positives when considering coming here to take over the head coaching position, but the job did have one twist.
“The worst thing I heard is it’s in Central Wisconsin,” Crow said jokingly.
The advantages of other key areas within UWSP helped attract Crow.
“Obviously the success of the athletic department was big, as well as some recruiting advantages such as tuition and admissions,” Crow said.
Crow plans to instill her own style into the program and build off previous successes.
“We’ve got to change the mentality that has kind of developed,” Crow said. “On the back of our practice shirts it says ‘nobody has ever drowned in sweat.'”
For someone who has been at the highest levels of soccer for a majority of both her playing and coaching career, Crow said coaching at the Division 3 level is refreshing.
“For me it’s another shot at coaching in college. The Divison 3 mentality and complexity of D3 life of a student-athlete is something I love and peaked my interest in this job,” she said. “It says a lot about these student-athletes because they don’t have to be here, but they want to be here, and I absolutely love that.”
Charles Klumb
Reporter
charles.klumb@uwsp.edu
