MONTEVALLO, Ala. - Stacey Balaam has been named the new women's soccer assistant coach at the University of Montevallo. Balaam becomes the first full-time assistant coach in the programs' history.

Balaam will join head coach Patricia Hughes as they lead their team in its first Peach Belt Conference campaign. The Falcons are coming off another successful season after making it to their second-straight Gulf South Conference Championship game. Balaam will transition from being a leader on the field to prowling the sidelines along with Hughes. Balaam was a three-year captain at Montevallo and finished her playing career as the all-time leader in assists with 50 and tied for first in points with 100.

"I'm very excited to have Stacey join me on the sidelines," said head coach Patricia Hughes. "She helped lay the foundation for the UM soccer program on the field and brings a wealth of experience both from playing internationally and from her time at UM. I am proud to see how she as grown as both a player and a leader in her past five years at Montevallo. She will hit the ground running when she arrives helping me in all aspects of the program including recruiting, making travel arrangements and on-field coaching."

Balaam played in and started 71 career games and amassed 25 goals, 50 assists and 100 career points. She was the engine that drove the Montevallo midfield and created many scoring chances with her intelligent passes and quick-thinking ability. She was named to the All-GSC squads four times, a two-time All-Region selection, a two-time All-American and South Region Player of the Year.

"I am very excited to be returning to University of Montevallo as the Women's Soccer assistant," said Balaam. "My goal is to help build on what the program has already achieved. I have been a part of some successful years here as a player and now hope to be a part of the future accomplishments as a coach. Coach Hughes has developed a program that has flourished over the years and we have some promising young talent this year to take it further. I am looking forward to improving my skills as a coach at this top Division II institution."

Balaam is currently playing professionally in Iceland and will join the program this fall as it contends for its first ever Peach Belt Conference Title.