Troy announces new women’s soccer coach

Troy named their new women’s soccer head coach, Jason Hamilton, on Monday, Jan. 27, after previous head coach Chris Bentley accepted a position with Colorado State the past week.

Bentley was head coach for Troy for six seasons and the team posted the best six season winning span in program history.

Hamilton spent the past season as an assistant coach with the Florida Gators and focused on training goalkeepers and defense.

Athletics Director John Hartwell, who announced the hiring of Hamilton, was pleased with the selection and is optimistic for the program’s future.

“Jason emerged as the very best of a very good candidate pool,” Hartwell said. “We believe he has all the right tools and experience to lead our soccer program to consistent finishes in the top of the Sun Belt Conference standing and compete for conference championships.”

Hamilton has been an assistant for the Boston Breakers of the National Women’s Soccer League and worked his way through the ranks at the University of Miami for two years.

In 2012, he was able to help the Hurricanes have one of its most successful seasons in program history, setting records in shutouts, fewest goals against, and conference shutouts.

As a player, Hamilton has played as a midfielder for Macomb College in Michigan and a goalkeeper during his sophomore and junior years at the University of Detroit Mercy. His senior year he was a captain and moved back onto the field.

After college, he played four seasons as a defender for the Windsor Border Stars in the Canadian Professional Soccer League. During his time with the team, it won two Canada Cup Championships.

“I want to thank athletic director John Hartwell and Dr. Hawkins for the opportunity to join the Troy family. It is truly an honor for me to be the head coach of the women’s soccer program and part of such a great university,” Hamilton said. “With a talented group of returning players who gained experience this past season and the support shown by the athletic department, I am excited for the future of our program and its success in the Sun Belt Conference.”