Chattanooga State Community College is making history this fall with the launch of its newest athletic program: Women’s Soccer. Leading the way is head coach Zach Dailey, who has been bringing more than a decade of coaching experience from the academy and soccer club world.
“I was working on the academy side for about 13 years,” Dailey said. “When the opportunity came up here, I reached out to the school, went through the interview process, and it ended up being a great fit.”
For Dailey and his staff, the first season will be about more than wins and losses. “We’re a first-year program, so for us, success is about establishing a foundation for the future,” he explained. “It’s about doing the right things right away and building something sustainable.”
Dailey won’t be tackling this challenge alone. He’s joined by assistant coach Gretchen Hamel, a pioneer in Chattanooga soccer. Hamel was the first woman ever signed to play at UTC and has played a role in launching both the Chattanooga CFC Women’s team and the Chattanooga Red Wolves Women’s team. “I’m very fortunate to have her,” Dailey said. “She’s been an incredible help this season.”
The Lady Tigers will open their inaugural campaign on the road against Roane State Community College this Sunday at 4 p.m. Their first home match is scheduled for September 1 against Dyersburg State, with games set to be played at North River Soccer Association fields near McKamey Animal Center. In case of weather, matches may be moved to turf fields, with updates posted on the team’s social media.
The roster is taking shape, though Dailey acknowledges that it’s smaller than most. “We’ve brought in 14 players, and they’re learning to play together,” he said. “We don’t have the advantage of half the team having already played a season together, but the group is coming along really well.”
Among the new faces is a familiar Chattanooga State athlete: Brooke Watson, a member of the Lady Tigers softball team that captured last season’s Region VII championship. Watson will also suit up as a goalkeeper this fall.
The team will wear Under Armour kits, featuring an all-royal blue home uniform and an all-white away kit, with goalkeepers sporting orange and light blue. “We try to avoid black—it’s brutal in the heat,” Dailey laughed.
As for the upcoming season, Dailey is eager to get underway. “We’re just excited to get on the field,” he said. “It’s been a lot of building and preparing, but now it’s time to play.”
With an experienced coaching staff, a determined group of athletes, and a program eager to prove itself, Chattanooga State women’s soccer looks poised to make an immediate impact in its debut season.
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