UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State women's soccer head coach Erica Dambach announced the addition of Drew Williams to the program's staff on Thursday afternoon, naming him as an assistant coach to complete the 2026 coaching staff.
"We are extremely excited to welcome Drew and his family to Happy Valley," Dambach expressed. "Throughout the hiring process, it was clear that Drew is an exceptional teacher of the game whose passion for player development and commitment to excellence align perfectly with our culture. His diverse background as a coach, recruiter and tactical analyst, combined with his proven ability to develop student-athletes, will make an immediate impact on our program. Drew's energy and vision make him an outstanding addition to our staff, and we are excited to see the influence he will have as we continue competing for championships while preparing our student-athletes for success on and off the field."
Williams arrives in Happy Valley after establishing himself as one of the rising young coaches in the collegiate and amateur women's game. Most recently, he served as Lead Opposition Analyst at Eastern Kentucky, where he played an instrumental role in one of the most successful seasons in program history. Williams produced comprehensive scouting reports, analyzed advanced performance metrics, designed match-specific attacking and defensive set-piece strategies and helped guide the Colonels to program records in goals, assists and points while earning the highest national ranking in school history at No. 32. His work also contributed to six All-Conference selections during the 2025 campaign.
"While the accomplishments on the field here speak for themselves, it was the quality of the people that ultimately led to my decision to join Penn State Women's Soccer," Williams said. "The staff and players, current and past, have cultivated an environment that is truly something special, not just on the field but, most importantly, off the field. It's a true family here. This culture became the deciding factor when looking to move my family across the country. It is a rare privilege to work at an elite level while knowing your family is surrounded by such a phenomenal culture. We are incredibly grateful for this opportunity and can't wait to contribute to the Penn State family."
In addition to his collegiate experience, Williams has served as Head Coach of the Spokane Shadow WPSL First Team since 2022 while also leading the club's CPL Second Team. Under his leadership, Spokane captured the 2024 Northwest Conference Championship and advanced to the WPSL National Quarterfinals before following with a Sweet 16 appearance in 2025. Williams was recognized as the WPSL Northwest Conference Coach of the Year in both 2024 and 2025 while coaching 14 All-Conference selections, five All-Region honorees, multiple Players of the Year and numerous athletes who advanced into the professional ranks.
Williams has also played a significant role in the growth of Spokane Shadow's youth platform, serving as General Manager, College Advisor and Head Coach of the club's U17 GA squad. In that role, he oversaw club operations while directing college recruiting initiatives for more than 200 student-athletes. On the field, Williams guided the U17 side to an undefeated 16-0 conference record, a Pacific Northwest Conference championship, a national ranking of No. 4 and a berth in the GA Champions Cup Quarterfinals during the 2026 season.
Concurrently with his most recent roles, Williams spent six seasons at Whitworth University as Recruiting Director, Assistant Coach and Goalkeeper Coach. During his tenure with the Pirates, he helped recruit and develop the program's all-time leader in goals and total points while coaching 23 All-Northwest Conference student-athletes. Williams also led recruiting operations, assisted with tactical planning and opposition analysis, directed goalkeeper development and implemented individualized player development plans that elevated the program's competitive success.
A native of Spokane, Washington, Williams earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in Athletic Coaching from Whitworth University. Throughout his coaching career, he has developed expertise in tactical analysis, player recruitment, performance data, opposition scouting and goalkeeper development while utilizing industry-leading analytical platforms including Wyscout, Hudl, Spideo, InStat and Catapult technologies.
Penn State is fresh off another trip to the NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Tournament, with PSU reaching the big dance in each of the last 32 seasons in addition to booking a second round-or-better finish in each of the last 17 years. The Nittany Lions reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament a year ago and cracked the 10-win threshold for the 32nd year in a row, a stretch of consistent success that runs concurrently with PSU’s entire varsity history since 1994. The Blue & White return team captains Mackenzie Gress and Molly Martin, as well as the program’s leading scorer from the 2025 season in rising-junior Aubrey Kulpa, who totaled 22 points in just 15 appearances a season ago.
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