RICHMOND, Ky. – Chris Swift has been hired as the assistant coach for the Eastern Kentucky University women’s soccer program, head coach Lindsay Basalyga announced on Thursday. Swift joins the Colonels after spending the last three seasons as an assistant coach at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.

“I am very excited to join the program here at Eastern Kentucky,” Swift said. “I want to thank Lindsay for the opportunity to be part of her staff and help the program move toward achieving the goal of winning the Ohio Valley Conference and qualifying for the NCAA Tournament.”

Lamar improved all three years that Swift was a member of the coaching staff, culminating in 2011, when the Lady Cardinals enjoyed the most successful season in the five-year history of the program, setting school records for victories (eight) and conference victories (six) while earning the No. 3 seed in the Southland Conference Tournament. Six Lady Cardinals earned all-conference honors following the breakout season.

A native of southern California, Swift used his connections in that area to recruit several key members of Lamar’s record-breaking 2011 team, including second team all-conference midfielder Kristin Bos and honorable mention all-conference defender Nicole Frank.

Swift was also instrumental in Lamar’s high academic standards while he was there, resulting in two Lady Cardinals, Rachelle Berry and Jennifer Torry, being named second team Capital One Academic All-District in 2011.

Aside from recruiting and academics, Swift was also in charge of training, video breakdown, camps and community service while at Lamar.

Before arriving at Lamar, Swift was an assistant coach/goalkeepers coach at his alma mater, Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, Calif., from 2008-09. Swift played goalkeeper at Vanguard from 2002-06 and recorded 138 saves and four shutouts during his career. He earned his bachelor’s degree in history and political science from the school in 2006.

Swift also possesses several years of club coaching experience, serving as an assistant coach for the Slammers Football Club from 2004-06, the United Futbol Club (where current Colonel Brittany Nomady played) from 2006-09 and as the goalkeepers coach for the Los Angeles Legends Football Club in 2009.

“I am very happy to have Chris on staff with our program as we head into the 2012 season,” Basalyga said. “Chris has a tremendous amount of experience working with goalkeepers and his connections to southern California will certainly help keep our recruiting pipeline intact with that area of the country.  I think Chris will do a great job complimenting my strengths and weaknesses as a coach and I’m looking forward to starting preseason with a fresh set of eyes and ideas.”