App State women's soccer head coach Sarah Strickland announced the hiring of assistant coach Mitch Williams on Feb. 12, 2020.
In Williams' first season, Mary Perkins tied a personal high in goals and set a career best en route to a career high in points. Tess Cairney totaled a pair of assists for a personal high, while her lone goal came in a game winner in a Sun Belt showdown against Troy.
App State doubled its Sun Belt win total and earned a Sun Belt Tournament victory in the first round over ULM in overtime in Williams' first season as well.
Williams arrives to the High Country from Florida State, where he graduated with his masters in Public Health in fall of 2019. During his time at FSU, Williams served as both a graduate assistant and volunteer assistant from 2017 through 2019. The Seminoles showcased consistency in the postseason, highlighted by the 2018 National Championship and ACC Tournament title. His teams appeared in the NCAA Elite in 2019 and NCAA Sweet 16 in 2017.
"Mitch's experience with creativity in the final third and high percentage goal scoring opportunities will also have an immediate impact on the team. Mitch will also be adding to the program through his expertise with film breakdown for both our programs; as well as, opponents. Mitch will also serve as our recruiting coordinator."
Williams played soccer at Southern Illinois in Edwardsville for two years. There, he led his team to a Missouri Valley Conference Championship and made it to the second round of the NCAA tournament in 2014. After spending two years at SIUE, Williams transferred to the University of Mary Washington, where his team became a Capital Athletic Conference finalist in 2016. Williams graduated in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in Economics from MWU, and began his masters degree at Florida State shortly after.
"I want to thank coach Sarah Strickland, Jonathan Reeder, Makini Thompson and Doug Gillin for this tremendous opportunity," Williams said. "Appalachian State has a culture of excellence that runs deep in every aspect of the University. I am excited to get started with the staff, team and to help foster a culture of success on and off the field."
