University of New Mexico Women's Soccer

Dyche Heather Dyche enters her second season at The University of New Mexico after leading the Lobos to the Mountain West Tournament semifinals and a 10-8-2 mark in her inaugural campaign. Dyche, an Albuquerque native, is the third coach in Lobos women's soccer history to begin her career with double-digit victories, which included a 7-3-1 record in Mountain West Conference play. On top of having five All-MW selections, Dyches team was also a success in the classroom. Her team posted an average fall 2015 grade point average of 3.59, a 0.10 jump from the year before. Two local seniors, Cassie Ulrich from Rio Rancho, N.M., and Alyssa Coonrod from Albuquerque, N.M., were named to the 2015 CoSIDA/Academic All-District VII Team.   Along with leading the Lobos, Dyche traveled to Brazil this summer to assist the U.S. Women's National Team during the 2016 Summer Olympic Games - assisting with scouting and analyzing opponents. Dyche is also a coach, instructor and scout with the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). Dyche is an assistant coach for the US Youth National Team U14 and U15 Girls. There, Dyche is granted the opportunity to identify and work with the most talented U15 soccer players in the country and the core of the US team that will compete in the 2018 FIFA U-17 Womens World Cup. She also serves on the USSF instructional staff, instructing USSF B- and USSF C-licensed national coaching schools across the country.      Dyche's footprint at the elite level spans past the national stage, as she has also assisted for national teams from Antigua, St. Kitts and Nevis and Grenada.   Dyche serves on the instructional staff for The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF). As the only female of the CONCACAF educational board, Dyche teaches C, D and grassroots courses in order while developing and writing content for all womens grassroots programs.    Dyche is a US Youth Region IV ODP head coach. There, she coaches the team at Olympic Development Interregional events and identifies top players in the region to participate in the Olympic Development Program Regional Team.   Finally, she is also the co-founder and head coach of LEAD Academy (Leadership and Empowerment through Athletic Development Soccer)  an all-girls soccer leadership training school located here in Albuquerque.     Dyches New Mexico soccer roots are as extensive as her résumé is.   Prior to joining the University of New Mexico, Dyche was a presenter at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/U.S. Youth National Conference in 2013 and at the U.S. Soccer National Symposium in 2011.   She has coached more than 60 players who have gone on to collegiate soccer programs. She has coached multiple state and regional champion club teams in New Mexico. Dyche was the NMYSA Coach of the Year in 2008 with the Rio 95G Magic. She served as the associate head coach and team captain of the now-defunct Albuquerque Asylum of the Womens Premier Soccer League from 2006-07.   She is a 1997 graduate of Eldorado High School and was a four-year All-State defender, a two-time district player of the year and the 1996 Defensive Player of the Year. She also played basketball for the Eagles and was a first-team all-state performer 2 years.   Dyche accepted a soccer scholarship to the University of Nebraska and was a participant on the No. 4-ranked womens soccer program in the nation.   She transferred to Florida State and played there from 1998-2001, serving as the team captain her senior year. The Seminoles participated in the NCAA Tournament in 2000 and 2001 and was ranked as high as No. 9 in the country during her time there. She was on the Atlantic Coast Conference All-Tournament Team in 2001 and was an on the ACC Academic Honor Roll all four of her years there.   Dyche got her Bachelors degree in Family and Consumer Sciences, with an emphasis in Child Development, accumulating a 3.8 grade-point average. She then earned a Masters degree in Athletic Administration, achieving a 3.84 grade-point average.   She went on to play with ROA Norway -- a semi-professional soccer team in 2004-05 -- helping the squad win the Norwegian League Championship in 04.   Dyche comes to UNM with an impressive list of licensing credentials. She earned a USSF National A License in 2010, a National Soccer Coaches Association of America Premier Diploma in 2013, a CONCACAF D License in 2013 and a U.S. Youth Soccer Association National Youth License in 2010.

Nelson was an assistant coach at Iowa Western Community College from 2011-13, where she designed and implemented the teams training regimen. Nelson also assisted with recruiting, academics, team travel and game management for the team. Iowa Western went 33-6-1 during her two full seasons, with a No. 3 national ranking in 2012 and a No. 5 national ranking in 2011. Nelson served as a coach at the UK International Soccer Camps in Palo Alto, Calif., in 2010 and was an assistant soccer coach at Cortez High School in Phoenix from 2008-09. Nelson is a native of Orem, Utah.

Maestas. "I look forward to contributing to the success and growth of these talented young women."   Maestas brings yet another local connection to the Lobos' women's soccer program. Maestas joins the team after seven seasons at Albuquerque's Eldorado High School. Maestas coached at Eldorado from 2009-16 and was named head coach of the varsity girls' soccer team prior to the 2012 state tournament.   Under Maestas, Eldorado was a girl's soccer powerhouse in New Mexico. In just his second year with the varsity team in 2013, the Eagles were ranked second in the nation by MaxPreps and won the NMAA 5A State Soccer Tournament Championship, as well as the APS Metro Tournament Championship. His team won the District 2-6A Championship in 2014 and was a 6A state tournament finalist this past year.   Maestas was recognized in 2013 as the 5A Soccer Coach of the Year and the NSCAA New Mexico Large School Coach of the Year.   Like head coach Dyche, Maestas has been an integral member of the youth soccer community in Albuquerque. He has served as a staff coach with the Olympic Development Program since 2012, where he has instructed many of the best players in the state of New Mexico.   Maestas previous coaching stops also include serving as the assistant coach at Albuquerque's Manzano HS, the head coach of the Rio Soccer Club and a staff coach at Got Fit! Soccer Camps.   Maestas is a 2007 graduate of the University of New Mexico, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with TESOL Endorsement. He has received multiple licenses and certificates at the youth and high school level, including his New Mexico Youth Soccer Association E License.Paul Maestas