Soccer
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Phone:
- 205-348-0526
Alabama head coach Wes Hart enters his fifth season at the helm of the Crimson Tide women’s soccer program.
Hart is coming off an impressive 2019 season where the team notched a 10-7-3 record, 4-4-2 in conference play. With a 2-1 overtime win against Auburn in the first round of the SEC Tournament, the squad made only the third Semifinals appearance at the Tournament in Alabama history. The team tallied the longest SEC unbeaten streak in program history (6 games) and ranked #1 in the nation among D1 teams in corner kicks earned (159 in 20 matches played). A program-high four athletes earned All-Conference Honors (Reyna Reyes – First Team/All-Freshman Team, Casey Wertz and Brynn Martin – Second Team, Carlee Giammona – All-Freshman Team) under his direction.
Alabama made strides in 2018, including an upset victory over then-No. 5 Texas A&M (Oct. 18), which marked the first victory over a top-five opponent in program history. and second top-10 victory in the Hart eara. The 2017 season was a breakout year for the Crimson Tide, earning its third NCAA Tournament bid in program history after posting a 12-8-1 overall record. It was the most wins in a single season since 2002, helping the Tide clinch an at-large tournament berth.
The 2017 season was a breakout year for the Crimson Tide under Hart, earning its third NCAA Tournament bid in program history after posting a 12-8-1 overall record. It was the most wins in a single season since 2002, helping the Tide clinch an at-large tournament berth. Alabama finished the regular season non-conference slate with an 8-1 record, including an upset victory over then-No. 4 Florida State (Aug. 27), which marked the first victory over a top-10 opponent in program history. In conference play, the Tide capped the regular season with a four-game winning streak, which was the longest streak against conference foes since 1998.
During the 2017 campaign, Alabama earned national attention after capturing the program’s first shutout victory over the top-10 ranked Seminoles by ranking in several national polls for four straight weeks. The Tide first appeared on Soccer America’s Top 25 list at No. 24 on Aug. 29 and received its highest ranking on the Soccer America poll on Sept. 12 coming it at No. 19. The Crimson Tide also received votes on TopDrawerSoccer.com’s Top 25 rankings and the NSCAA’s Top 25 during the same four weeks.
In 2016, Hart implemented drastic improvements nearly doubling the previous year’s number of wins and registered his first winning season at the Capstone with a 9-8-2 record. Alabama finished ninth in the conference and made their first postseason appearance at the SEC Tournament since 2014. On Sept. 9, the Crimson Tide topped the Tennessee Lady Vols, 5-1, marking the first SEC road opener victory since 2014, and carried that momentum into late September by shocking then-No. 14 Texas A&M, 2-1. It was the first victory over a ranked SEC opponent since 2014 and the first win over a top-25 contender under Hart.
Hart’s inaugural season in 2015 saw a major focus on transition and the future of the program. Other highlights from his first year included Hart’s first win as a head coach in the home opener against Troy (Aug. 23) handing Wake Forest its first shutout of the year (Aug. 28), giving LSU its first loss of the season (Sept. 11) in a 3-2 double overtime comeback win and a hard fought double-overtime win at Georgia (Oct. 16), which
Prior to Alabama, Hart spent two years at Florida State. Those two seasons included the Seminoles’ first national championship season in 2014 and an overall record of 47-3-4 as an assistant coach.
Hart was instrumental in leading Seminoles to their first national championship in 2014, his second season on the staff. His primary responsibilities with the Seminoles included planning the offensive attack, assisting with player development and video analysis, along with other recruiting and scouting duties.
In just two seasons at Florida State, Hart helped develop a balanced offensive attack that resulted in 407 points on 129 goals and 149 assists. The Seminoles won two back-to-back ACC championships, made two College Cup appearances, and posted a national runner-up finish and a national title. Two Seminoles garnered All-America honors during Hart’s time in Tallahassee: Dagny Brynjarsdottir (2013 & 2014) and Cheyna Williams (2014). Brynjarsdottir went on to post career highs in points (38), goals (16) and shots (87) in her final season at Florida State, finishing as the runner-up for 2014 MAC Hermann Trophy.
During FSU’s run to the national title in 2014, the Seminoles ranked in the top three in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in every major offensive category, while leading the league with a school-record 90 assists. Florida State scored multiple goals in 18 of 26 games, including four times during the NCAA Tournament.
A native of Littleton, Colo., Hart began his coaching career after spending eight years (2005-12) in a variety of roles with the Colorado Rush, one of the premier soccer clubs in the country. In his final three years with the Rush, Hart held the title of Director of Coaching Academy where he oversaw the girls ECNL teams and the boys US Development Academy teams. During his time with the Rush, Hart was involved in four national championships, including three as an assistant and one as head coach. He has coached several US Youth National Team players, including Lindsey Horan, who now plays for the Portland Thorns and U.S. Women’s National Team.
Before entering the coaching ranks, Hart played six seasons of professional soccer in MLS (Major League Soccer). He was selected as the seventh overall pick in the 2000 MLS Super Draft by the Colorado Rapids. In four seasons with the Rapids (2000-03), Hart appeared in 68 regular season games making 60 starts. He also started seven of 10 MLS playoff games during that time. His final two seasons in MLS came with the San Jose Earthquakes as he appeared in 25 games making 14 starts. Hart was honored as the MLS Humanitarian of the Year in 2000 and 2001.
Hart began his collegiate playing career at the University of Wisconsin before transferring to the University of Washington for his final two seasons (1998-99). With the Huskies, Hart garnered third team All-America accolades in 1998 and second team honors in 1999. He was honored as a first team Scholar All-American by the NSCAA in 1999, was a two-time first team All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) honoree and was named the MPSF Player of the Year in 1999.
Hart and his wife, Jaime, have two children, Dominic and Grace.
