Milligan welcomes Alyssa Whitehead as women’s soccer head coach

Alyssa Whitehead Headshot

MILLIGAN, Tenn. (Jan. 6, 2021) – Milligan University has selected Alyssa Whitehead to serve as the next head coach of its women's soccer program. Whitehead joins the Milligan athletics staff after spending the past year as goalkeeper coach with the Jamaican Football Federation and a roster member of the Jamaica women's national football Olympic qualifying team.

"We are extremely excited to have Coach Whitehead as our new head coach for women's soccer," said Mark Fox, Milligan vice president for athletics and student development. "Our search produced multiple extremely qualified candidates who fit our desired profile. Coach Whitehead quickly rose to the top of the candidate pool due to her coaching and playing experience, communication skills, faith commitment and vision for taking the program to consistent championship levels. I am confident that her drive and experience will allow this program to consistently contend for championships and play in national tournaments."

Whitehead, a native of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, made three stops at NCAA Division I soccer programs prior to arriving at Milligan. She earned the assistant position at Florida International University for the 2019-20 season, serving as goalkeeper coach and recruiting coordinator. This followed an assistant position at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) from 2018 to 2019, where she also served as goalkeeper coach and recruiting coordinator. At UC Davis, Whitehead helped lead the team to its highest finish in the Big West Conference in program history.

Prior to FIU and UC Davis, Whitehead spent three seasons at her alma mater, serving as assistant coach at Samford University from 2015 to 2018. There, Whitehead was goalkeeper coach and took on several administrative duties, including travel logistics, academic oversight and scouting.

During Whitehead's three seasons as assistant coach at Samford, the team won three Southern Conference (SoCon) regular season championships (2015-2017), one SoCon tournament championship (2016) and made one NCAA national tournament appearance (2016). The Bulldogs combined to win 42 matches, including eight wins in conference each of those three seasons. In Samford's NCAA tournament-qualifying 2016 season, the Bulldogs defeated East Tennessee State University, 2-1, for the SoCon tournament title.

Whitehead also worked with Birmingham United Soccer Association and the U.S. Olympic Development Program from 2015 to 2018, serving primarily as goalkeeper coach.

"Thank you to Mark Fox, Dr. Rich Aubrey, and Dr. Bill Greer for the opportunity to come to such a fantastic institution," said Whitehead. "I am excited to get to work and be a part of the Milligan family. I am looking forward to serving, leading and empowering the young women of the Milligan University women's soccer program while creating a program that has the ability to consistently be competitive in Appalachian Athletic Conference and national championship play. I believe great things are coming in the future for this program."

Whitehead's return to her alma mater followed a professional playing career that saw her compete in Sweden on professional teams Umeå Södra FF (2012-2013) and Mallbackens IF (2014) for three years. Prior to that, Whitehead competed for the semi-professional Charlotte Lady Eagles from 2009 to 2011.

Whitehead's undergraduate playing days were marked by tremendous success. A four-year starter as Samford's goalkeeper, Whitehead holds nearly every goalkeeping record, including most single-season and career minutes, best single-season and career goal against average, most single-season and career shutouts, and most saves in a single season.

During her time competing for Samford, Whitehead's team won 48 games, and Whitehead helped set the school record of six goals allowed in the 2009 season, a record that still stands today. Whitehead wrapped up her undergraduate playing career by winning the SoCon regular season and tournament titles, followed by an NCAA national tournament appearance, in her senior season (2011).

Whitehead earned a Bachelor of Arts and Science in biochemistry with a minor in biology from Samford University in 2012. She is a 2018 Samford Hall of Fame inductee, becoming the first soccer player to be recognized with the prestigious honor.