PORTALES, N.M. – Eastern New Mexico head women's soccer coach Josh Smith recently announced his resignation to pursue other coaching opportunities.
Smith served as the head women's soccer coach at Eastern New Mexico for two seasons, compiling a record of 17-17-3 and finishes his career as the second all-time winningest coach in program history, leading the Greyhounds to the program's first two seasons with consecutive .500 or better records. The highlight of Smith's tenure as Greyhound head coach came during the 2018 season in which the Hounds advanced to the program's first ever Lone Star Conference Championship game as the no. 5 seed following upsets in the first two rounds of the tournament over no. 4 seeded Texas A&M-Commerce and no. 1 seeded West Texas A&M.
"I am very thankful for my time at ENMU. I am thankful for the opportunity afforded me by Dr. Elwell, Matt Grawrock, and Dr. Waggoner," coach Smith said, "Eastern New Mexico University is a special place. We have accomplished a lot over the last two years and I am humbled to have been a part of this. It has been my honor to coach these special players and I have no doubt the program at Eastern will continue to do great things. My family and I appreciate everything Eastern New Mexico University and this community have done for us."
Junior
Julia Tucker and sophomores Hayden and
Keyara Zuniga were named to the LSC All-Tournament Team for their efforts throughout the tournament while graduate transfer
Bailey Bosley was tabbed as the 2018 Lone Star Conference Newcomer of the Year. Bosley along with
Hayden Zuniga were selected as Second Team All-Lone Star Conference selections at season's end while
Samantha Fabela was named First Team All-Lone Star Conference as one of the league's best midfielders.
Smith's physical and defensive-oriented style of play was on full display all season long for the Hounds in the build-up to their postseason tournament run as the 2018 squad allowed the third-fewest goals per game (1.15) in the Lone Star Conference and set a program-record for the fewest shots per game allowed in a season (11.4). A 9-9-2 record at season's end matched the second highest single season win total in school history for the Greyhounds.
"Josh Smith continued to elevate our women's soccer program to new heights throughout his two seasons as head coach," Interim Athletic Director Dr. Jeff Long said, "His leadership on and off the field was unmatched and his ability to instill a winning culture into the program did not go unnoticed. We wish Coach Smith nothing but the best in the future and are confident he will find success wherever his career takes him."
The program followed up it's deepest postseason run in school history with a record of 8-8-1 this fall. Sophomore
Desiree Morgas emerged as one of the league's best offensive weapons and was voted as the 2019 Lone Star Conference Newcomer of the Year at season's end.
Morgas led the Greyhounds to a record of 5-8-0 in LSC play and an eighth place finish in the newly expanded LSC conference standings. The Hounds started off the 2019 season as one of the top defensive units in all of Division II soccer, shutting out four straight non-conference opponents to open up the season with a record of 3-0-1.
Despite a tough schedule and a string of injuries throughout the conference schedule, Smith captained the Hounds to a respectable finish in the NCAA Division II's largest conference, just one spot shy of a conference tournament qualification. Morgas was also named D2SIDA All-South Central Region Second Team, the first All-Region selection for the program since the 2014 campaign.
Smith came to Eastern New Mexico following tenures as head women's soccer coach at the University of the Southwest and NOC-Tonkawa. He amassed a 16-15-2 record during his time at the University of the Southwest and a record of 36-5-2 at NOC-Tonkawa.
A national search for a new head women's soccer coach will begin immediately.
