Nick Cowell

Head Coach-Women
512-428-1052
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Nick Cowell begins his sixth year as head coach of the women's soccer team. Last season, he led the team to a 17-2-2 record, a #6 national ranking and the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament for the first time in school history. In 2009, Cowell guided the squad to a 16-3-3 record and the team advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time in school history. For his efforts, Cowell was named South Central Region Coach of the Year.

Since taking over at St. Edward's, Cowell has produced 32 all-conference players, 26 all-region players, four Heartland Conference Players of the Year and six All-America selections. His teams have compiled a 80-15-8 record -- all while maintaining a focus on academics. Last spring, the team tallied a GPA of 3.44. Twenty-three of his players were named to the Heartland Conference Honor Roll last year and seven of them earned 4.0 GPAs.

Cowell came to St. Edward's after spending three seasons as the head women's soccer coach at Sewanee: The University of the South. During his tenure at Sewanee, the Tigers posted a 37-14-3 record and advanced to the school's first NCAA Tournament in 2005. In his 22-year college coaching career, Cowell is 296-102-29. His 296 wins have been compiled at five different colleges: The College of Wooster (1989-1990), Trinity University (1991-1998), Baylor University (1999-2002), Sewanee (2003-2005) and St. Edward's (2006-present). Cowell has guided his teams to 11 conference championships and 12 NCAA National Tournament appearances. He coached 18 All-Americans and 14 Conference Players of Year while earning Conference Coach of the Year honors nine times.

In 2011, Cowell will serve on the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer National Committee, after serving two years on the NCAA Regional Selection Committee. He has served as the National Soccer Coaches Association of America National Rankings Committee chair, NSCAA All-American Committee regional chair and NCAA Selection Committee regional chair. He is involved in NSCAA national and regional clinics, and United States Soccer Federation regional and state clinics. He coaches in the Olympic Development Program at national, regional and state levels.

Cowell received his bachelor's degree in French and Spanish at the University of Birmingham, England, in 1983 and earned his master's degree in Sports Psychology, and Curriculum and Instruction at Cleveland State University in 1988. He holds an USSF "A" license, a NSCAA Advanced National Diploma and an English F.A. Preliminary Coaching Badge.

Jay Mason

Assistant Coach-Women
512-428-1054
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Jay Mason begins his fifth season as assistant coach for the Hilltopper women's soccer program. Mason is the defensive coordinator, coaching the defense and the goalkeepers to program-best goals-against averages. Mason also serves as the recruiting coordinator, scouring the globe for the blend of soccer ability, character and academic achievement necessary to succeed at the top level. Mason previously served as the assistant coach for the Incarnate Word men's and women's soccer teams during the 2004 and 2005 seasons. He was an assistant coach for the women's team that went 22-12-5 during his two seasons with the squad and won the 2005 Heartland Conference title. On the men's side, Mason was the goalkeeping coach where he helped lead UIW to back-to-back NCAA Division II National Tournament Appearances and a #1 NSCAA National Ranking (2004) and an NCAA Elite Eight appearance.

Mason was a two-year letterwinner at the College of Charleston and a two-year letterwinner at Incarnate Word. During his two seasons at College of Charleston, Mason led a back line to back-to-back Southern Conference Tournament appearances. He recorded the third most wins in a regular season with 15 his freshman year. While at Incarnate Word, Mason led the Cardinals to two NCAA Sweet 16 appearances. In 2002, he was selected as All-Heartland Conference First-Team and the Heartland Conference Goalkeeper of the Year. Additional playing experience includes two years with the Canadian U18 National Team Program, one season with the South Carolina State Team that competes in the U23 Donnelly Cup and three years with the St. Catherine's Roma Wolves SC in the Canadian Professional Soccer League, where he was named Rookie of the Year in the CPSL in 2001. He also played one season with the A-League Austin Posse, one season as a Minnesota Thunder trial player and two seasons with the South Texas Olympic Development program. Mason also coaches for nationally recognized soccer club Dallas Texans as the acting director of goalkeeping.

Mason graduated summa cum laude in 2004 from Incarnate Word with a BS in Physical Education. He earned an MS in Kinesiology from Incarnate Word in 2006.