Former SMU head women's soccer coach and men's assistant coach Brent Erwin is returning to the men's team as an assistant coach, head men's coach Tim McClements announced today.

"I am excited to announce the addition of Brent to our staff," McClements said. "We feel very fortunate that he was interested in making the transition back to the men's game. Brent and I have worked together before, and he's a great fit for the job. He has head coaching experience, has been an assistant for the men's team, is a phenomenal recruiter and is an important part of the SMU family. I know this move will continue the strong tradition of SMU soccer."

"It has been an honor to serve as the head coach of the SMU women's soccer team for the past five years," Erwin said. "I learned a tremendous amount from working with these talented young women and will always value the time I spent with their program. When this opportunity presented itself, though, I discussed it at length with my family, and realized I was at my best professionally when I was working with the men's program here at SMU. The opportunity to work with (men's head coach) Tim (McClements) and (men's assistant coach) Kevin (Hudson) just felt right. I'm really excited to get to work with them again and can't wait to get out there. It also gives me comfort in knowing that SMU and Steve Orsini will find a tremendous leader for the women's program and will be able to continue the hard work put in over the past five seasons."

"We'd like to thank Coach Erwin for his time leading the women's program and certainly respect his decision to do what is best for him professionally," said Orsini. "I know he'll bring great insight and energy to the men's program. We have five National Coaches of the Year on the Hilltop and will immediately begin a national search to find a new leader for our women's soccer program with similar experience and achievements. We have set a top-25 standard for our programs here at SMU and women's soccer is no exception. We will continue our growth in the sport and will build a perennial BIG EAST championship contender." 

Erwin has led the women's program the past five seasons (2007-2011, 45-45-7), but the majority of his coaching experience is on the men's side. He served five years (2000-2004) as an assistant under former SMU men's soccer head coach Schellas Hyndman, and during that time, the Mustangs compiled an 86-17-9 record and earned five NCAA Tournament berths. After advancing to the NCAA semifinals in 2000, the team was ranked No. 1 in the nation for 14 straight weeks and went as far as the NCAA quarterfinals in 2001. During his tenure, the recruiting classes Erwin helped compile consistently ranked among the nation's top five. He aided in the development of seven All-Americans and 20 all-conference honorees, as well as 2001 Hermann Award winner Luis "Luchi" Gonzalez.

Between his stints at SMU, Erwin served as head coach at UCF for two seasons (2005-2006), helping the Knights' men's soccer team to a 13-17-3 record and was an impressive 10-4-3 at home. In 2006, UCF made its first appearance in the Conference USA Championship, after defeating No. 17 Memphis and tying top-ranked SMU during the season.

During the summer of 2001, Erwin was invited to Sao Paulo, Brazil, by the Santos Futebol Club, Pele's club and a two-time World Club Champion. At Santos, he worked with all of the teams from Under-12 through Under-23, and observed the training of the professional squad.

Prior to his time working under Hyndman, Erwin served as assistant coach at IMG Soccer Academy in Bradenton, Fla. He also has worked with the Under-17 Men's National Team and the Region 3 Olympic Development Program.

As a player, Erwin was a three-year starter at TCU, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in general studies. After exhausting his final year of eligibility, he spent the summer of 1997 training with Leeds United of the English Premier League then trained with the Dallas Burn (now FC Dallas) organization, playing with their minor league team, the Texas Toros, for two seasons.

Erwin holds a U.S. Soccer Federation "A" Coaching License. He and his wife, Angie, have three sons, Ben, Luke and Max.

A national search for a women's head coach will begin immediately.