Sammy Towne
| Title: | Assistant Coach |
| Phone: | 561-310-3296 |
| Email: | sgtowne@uncg.edu |
Sammy Towne enters her second season as an assistant
women’s soccer coach at UNCG for head coach Steve Nugent.
In her first season as an assistant, Towne helped the Spartans earn
their ninth SoCon regular season championship along with assisting
with team travel and recruiting. UNCG finished the 2012 campaign
with a 12-7-1 record and a 9-1-1 SoCon mark.
Towne joined the Spartans after a stellar four-year playing career
at Southeastern Conference power Auburn.
Towne spent last season as a defensive assistant student-coach
at Auburn, helping the Tigers win their first-ever SEC Tournament
championship and a second round appearance in the 2011 NCAA
Tournament. Under her assistance, Auburn posted a 15-7-2 overall
record, allowing 31 goals while posting eight shutouts on the
year.
"This is a tremendous opportunity for me to join the UNCG
program,” Towne said. “I am looking forward to working
with Steve and helping these student-athletes advance to the NCAA
Tournament. I am very appreciative of Karen Hoppa and the Auburn
soccer program for all the knowledge and experience they have given
me during my career."
Towne was a four-year varsity letterwinner for the Tigers and a two-time team captain as a defender. She led Auburn to four straight winning seasons and NCAA Tournament appearances, totaling 43 wins and 26 shutouts anchoring the Tigers’ defense. She played in 84 career games, which ranks second all-time in Auburn history, while her 79 career starts rank 10th all-time.
“Sammy had a great career for us at Auburn as a two-time All-SEC player and a two-time team captain,” Auburn head coach Karen Hoppa said. “She was a great leader for our team and played through numerous injuries during her career. She has a tremendous personality and her knowledge of the game, especially on the defensive end, will be an asset to the UNCG program. Her leadership skills and strong character will make the transition from player to coach a smooth one. We are excited for her opportunity at UNCG.”
Towne was named Second Team All-SEC as a junior and a senior, starting all 41 games on the backline. She earned All-SEC Tournament accoaldes as a junior, leading the Tigers to the SEC Tournament semifinals. Additionally, she was awarded the Auburn Inspirational Female Athlete of the Year in 2011.
“Sammy's success as an All-SEC performer on the field and in the classroom brings a unique perspective to our team and I am sure her impact will be felt immediately,” Nugent said. “I had the unique pleasure of coaching Sammy as a youth player and that familiarity will help us achieve great things together. Because of her perseverance as a player, there is no doubt she will help us to succeed as we navigate a very tough schedule in 2012. Please join me in welcoming Sammy to the UNCG family.”
Towne earned her bachelor's degree from Auburn in 2012 in
human development and family studies.