AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts women’s soccer head coach Jason Dowiak announced the addition of Ricky Newton to the staff as an assistant coach on Tuesday afternoon. Newton worked on Dowiak’s staff before he began serving as a volunteer assistant coach in the summer of 2019.
“I’m so happy to welcome Ricky back to our program,” said Dowiak. “His knowledge of us and how we do things and his long-standing relationships with our players will undoubtedly help us take another stride forward as a program.”
Newton brings 15 years of coaching experience in six different countries across three continents to Amherst and most recently worked with female athletes in the ECNL (Elite Club National League). He also has a strength and conditioning and injury rehabilitation background from his previous stops.
In his first season with the Minutewomen in 2019, UMass finished with a 10-6-3 record to mark the first time since 2000 and 2001 that the Minutewomen recorded double-digit wins in consecutive seasons. Paced by Melissa Kössler, who became the sixth Minutewoman in team history to be named the Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year as well as UMass’ third A-10 Rookie of the Year selection in program history, UMass entered the postseason as the third- seeded team in the conference tournament for its best finish since 2000. The Minutewomen also placed two rookies among the nation’s top-100 freshmen list according to TopDrawerSoccer.com.
During the COVID-19 shortened season in 2020-21, the Minutewomen went 6-5-1 with a 5-2-1 mark in conference play to mark the first time since 2001 that UMass finished above .500 in three consecutive seasons. Paced by the play of Atlantic 10 All-Conference First Team selection Jenny Hipp and Second Team honoree and co-captain Dani Sclafani, Massachusetts secured a spot in the conference semifinals for the second straight season, marking the first time since 2000 that UMass has reached the A-10 semifinals in back-to-back seasons. Massachusetts finished the year 50th in the NCAA in goals against average (0.72) and 44th in shutout percentage (.500) backed by the goalkeeping tandem of Bella Mendoza and Alyssa Chase.
Newton graduated with a degree in sports education from the University of Gloucestershire in 2010, where he served as a player coach and captain as a senior while helping his squad to a national championship.
For complete coverage of the UMass women’s soccer team, follow the Minutewomen on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook at @UMassWSoccer and online at www.UMassAthletics.com.