LOGAN, Utah - Utah State head soccer coach Heather Cairns, a two-time conference Coach of the Year, is stepping away from the program as the longest-tenured coach in USU soccer history, a career spanning 18 seasons from 2003-20.
"Utah State soccer is such a special program and one that I have been honored to be a part of for 18 seasons," Cairns said. "I have worked with some of the best student-athletes and we have shared many special moments.
"I am especially proud of the current team. After some challenging years and through this year's COVID pandemic, they showed resilience, pride and dedication which resulted in a second-place divisional finish and put USU soccer back in the championship conversation," she continued. "I am going to enjoy cheering on the Aggies in the future!"
Cairns finishes her career with an overall record of 170-144-41, guiding the Aggies through three conferences and totaling a mark of 7-8-3 in the Big West, 42-9-8 in the Western Athletic Conference and 37-39-10 in the Mountain West. Under Cairns watch, Utah State captured back-to-back WAC titles, advancing to the NCAA Tournament in 2011 and 2012, as the 2011 squad set a school record with 15 wins. Cairns was recognized with a pair of WAC Coach of the Year honors, earning the distinction in 2008 and 2012.
Cairns coached a total of 35 players to 61 all-conference honors and four players to yearly conference accolades, including Shantel Flanary, a two-time WAC Offensive Player of the Year and 2007 WAC Freshman of the Year; Natalie Norris, a three-time WAC Defensive Player of the Year; Taryn Rose, the 2014 MW Defensive Player of the Year and 2011 WAC Freshman of the Year; and Lindsey Smart, the 2006 WAC Freshman of the Year.
The Aggies advanced to conference tournaments 11 times during Cairns' run and captured a pair of tournament championships in 2011 and 2012, and appeared in five championships in all. Utah State had 19 student-athletes named to all-tournament teams, including Molli Merrill, the 2011 WAC Tournament MVP, and Norris, who earned 2012 WAC Tournament MVP honors.
Utah State was always strong in the classroom under Cairns, as the Aggies earned NSCAA Team Academic Awards 15 times and generated a 2012 CoSIDA Academic All-American (Norris) and five CoSIDA academic all-district honorees. Overall, USU student-athletes earned a total of 257 academic all-conference accolades.
"On behalf of Utah State Athletics, I would like to express our gratitude to Heather for her 18 years of not only guiding our soccer program, but also being an outstanding ambassador of Utah State University," USU Vice President and Director of Athletics John Hartwell said. "We wish her much success in her future endeavors."
Fans can follow the Aggie soccer program on Twitter, @USUSoccer, on Facebook at /USUSoccer and on Instagram, @USUSoccer. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.
-USU-
