Sports is beginning to be a part of life at Texas A&M University at Texarkana.

A press conference was held today at Texas A&M University-Texarkana to announce the hiring of the university’s first collegiate Women’s Soccer coach, Steve Golas. Dr. Emily Cutrer, president of Texas A&M University-Texarkana, welcomed everyone to the press conference and shared with the audience the importance of having collegiate athletics available to students who attend A&M-Texarkana. “Collegiate athletics not only enables our students to compete on the athletic field, but it also enables them to excel in the classroom,” said Dr. Cutrer. “It provides opportunities for all of our students to become more engaged in campus life and school pride.”

 

A&M-Texarkana Director of Athletics, Michael Galvan introduced Coach Golas and talked about the process underway to offer collegiate athletics to the local campus. Mr. Galvan stated that an application was filed last October for the university to become affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). As a part of the ongoing process, representatives from NAIA will conduct a campus visit next month. If things go as planned, the university will offer collegiate Women’s Soccer, as well as Men’s and Women’s tennis beginning with the fall 2014 semester. Galvan is excited about having Coach Golas on campus. “The addition of Coach Golas is the next step in making competitive collegiate athletics a reality on campus,” says Galvan.

 

Steve Golas most recently has spent the last four seasons as the Head Men’s and Assistant Women’s Soccer Coach at Illinois College. During his tenure, he became the men’s all time leader in coaching victories, while assisting his wife, Head Women’s Coach, Becky Golas to the same distinction. His team posted a 10-6-2 record for the 2013 season. Golas also had success with programs at Lewis and Clark College in Portland, OR and Milikin University in Decatur, IL and as the Head Men’s Coach at William Penn University in Oskaloosa, IA. The well traveled coach has also coached at Bemidji State University, William Penn University and Angelo State University. Coach Golas began his coaching career as an assistant soccer coach at Colleyville Heritage High School in Colleyville, TX.

Steve received a BA in History from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, IA and a MS in Sports Studies from Bemidji State University. Steve and Becky have two children; Jacoby (4) and Cora (2).  

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