Texas Tech tabs Blair Quinn as new soccer assistant coach

LUBBOCK, Texas. – Texas Tech and head soccer coach Tom Stone has announced the hiring of former Iowa associate head coach Blair Quinn as the team's new assistant coach on Tuesday.

Quinn heads to Lubbock from Iowa, where he has spent the last four seasons as the associate head coach of the Hawkeyes. In his time in Iowa City, he served as the goalkeepers coach and led the program to two NCAA Tournament appearances and its first Big Ten title in school history.

"Blair Quinn is a terrific addition to the Red Raider Soccer program," head coach Tom Stone said. "His experience at the youth, collegiate and professional levels will serve our players and staff very well in this capacity. Our search was extensive, and Blair's expertise and professionalism stood out as a perfect fit for our team culture and commitment to winning. An outstanding goalkepeeer coach and mentor, Blair will also be very involved at all levels of team preparation, recruiting and player development. Thanks to Kirby Hocutt, Brandi Stewart and Johnothan Botros for supporting our pursuit of such a highly qualified and experienced candidate."

In his first season with Iowa, Quinn led the squad to one of the best seasons in program history as the Hawkeyes garnered their highest ranking in program history checking in at No. 17. The squad posted nine straight wins and totaled 15 on the year. That same year, Iowa made its second NCAA Tournament appearance in school history.

In 2020, the Hawkeyes saw its second straight tournament berth in a year with an expanded Big Ten postseason schedule due to league-only scheduling because of COVID. The Hawkeyes posted wins over second-seeded Illinois and third-seeded Minnesota in the Big Ten Regional weekend. The team followed with a road win at top-seeded Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals before downing third-seeded Wisconsin to claim the program's first-ever Big Ten title.

During their 2020 campaign, goalkeeper Macy Enneking was named the Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Defensive Player after posting a pair of shutouts and making 14 saves. Enneking was also a unanimous Big Ten All-Freshman team selection after taking over in goal midway through the season. The freshman led the Big Ten with a 0.47 goals against average in 11 games, her .912 saves percentage was tops in the league and her six shutouts were tied for third.

"I am very excited for the opportunity to work with Tom Stone," Quinn said. "He has been very successful at all levels of the game including at the club level and as the head coach of Texas Tech. He built one of the top youth clubs, I am looking forward to learning from him. I am also excited for the opportunity to work alongside Nick Hallam there. I am excited to help him put Texas Tech back in the NCAA tournament again."

Prior to his four seasons with the Hawkeyes, Quinn made stops at Houston, Arizona State, New Mexico State, Loyola Marymount and Saint Mary (Kansas).

While acting as an assistant coach at Houston, Quinn also assisted with the NWSL's Houston Dash. In his two seasons at Houston, the Cougars tallied 14 wins after only winning 12 games over the last four previous seasons.

During his two stints at Arizona State, the Sun Devils made three NCAA Tournament appearances, including his last stint during 2014-15. Prior to rejoining the Sun Devils, Quinn was the head coach at New Mexico State from 2011-13, and he guided the Aggies to a single-season record 10 wins and the program's first postseason victory in the WAC Tournament.

During his playing days, Quinn played professionally from 1997-2003. He started his professional career with the Tallahassee Scorpions of the Eastern Indoor Soccer League before playing with the Sacramento Knights of the Western Indoor Soccer League. Quinn was with the Kansas City Brass of the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues and Arizona Thunder (WISL), before he ended his playing career with the Kansas City Comets of the Major Indoor Soccer League.

During his college tenure, he was a three-year starter at Rockhurst University (NAIA) as a goalkeeper. Quinn garnered first-team NAIA All-America and second-team National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-America honors. During his final campaign as a senior, he led the Hawks to the NAIA Final Four and still holds Rockhurst records for shutouts in a season (15) and career (37).

Quinn earned a bachelor's degree in communications in 2005 from Rockhurst University. He also has earned several coaching licenses, including United States Soccer Federation (USSF) National "A" License, United States Soccer Federation (USSF) National Goalkeeping License and the NSCAA National Youth Diploma.

A native of Overland Park, Kansas, Quinn and his wife, Lacey, have two sons, Aidan and Riley.

Texas Tech University Athletics

Texas Tech tabs Blair Quinn as new soccer assistant coach

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