Thomsit Selected as Next Head Coach of Gardner-Webb Women's Soccer
May 28, 2026 | Women's Soccer
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. Gardner-Webb University Vice President and Director of Athletics Brendan Fahey has announced Samantha Thomsit as the next head coach of the Gardner-Webb women's soccer program
"We are excited to welcome Sam to our Runnin' Bulldogs family," Fahey said. "She is a proven winner and has experienced success at all levels of the game, both here and abroad. We look forward to seeing our student-athletes take big steps towards success both on and off the field under her leadership, helping to establish Gardner-Webb women's soccer as a contender in the Big South Conference for years to come"
Thomsit arrives at Gardner-Webb after implementing one of the great program turnarounds in women's college soccer during her previous spell at Spring Hill College. Before arriving in 2022, Spring Hill was off the back of an 0-17 season, with a negative-60 goal scoring margin. During Thomsit's tenure, Spring Hill gradually improved before combining to win 14 games over the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The 2024 and 2025 campaigns included a progressively higher finish in the Gulf South Conference during each season and the highest conference point totals in program history. During her four seasons at Spring Hill, Thomsit led the program to more wins than the program had seen in the previous decade combined
Her accomplishments at Spring Hill are not just limited to wins and losses, as Thomsit led Spring Hill to a pair of Gulf South Quarterfinal appearances, the furthest postseason runs in school history. She did so with a team which included the top scorer in the Gulf South Conference in 2024, the first player in program history to be named Gulf South All-Conference First Team, and the first player in Spring Hill history to be named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region Team. Player retention was also a significant calling card for Thomsit at Spring Hill, where she was able to keep all but five players over her four years leading the program
Prior to her time at Spring Hill, Thomsit served as an assistant coach at the University of South Alabama from 2018 to 2021. During her time with the Jaguars, Thomsit was on a staff that led South Alabama to the 2019 and 2020 Sun Belt regular season title, and a berth in the NCAA Tournament during the 2020 and 2021 campaigns. Her tenure on staff at South Alabama saw the Jaguars reach double digit wins in three of her four seasons, led largely by a defense she helped to spearhead as goalkeepers coach. 26 South Alabama players would take home All-Sun Belt selections in total during her four seasons, while the 2018 team allowed just 0.57 goals per game
Thomsit is well traveled outside the college game as well, serving as the head coach and travel coordinator for Burlingame Soccer Club in California from 2015 to 2017. Thomsit was crucial in elevating the club's youth development structure, helping to create a path-to-college program for both the U17 girls and U10 girls teams. In addition, Thomsit further worked with youth soccer players both in the United States and abroad, serving as head coach of Cherokee High School in Rogersville, Tennessee in 2013 and 2014, and as the boys and girls head coach of JSSL Arsenal Soccer Schools in Singapore in 2014 and 2015. She brings to Gardner-Webb additional experience in the club game as well, having also served as the head coach of Knoxville Soccer Academy's U18 girls team during the 2014 season
As a player, Thomsit had a decorated career at Carson-Newman University, featuring in the starting lineup in nearly every game as both a freshman and senior, including during the team's NCAA Division II Elite Eight run in 2009. Thomsit graduated from Carson-Newman in 2013 with her B.S. in Physical Education.
"She has won and overachieved everywhere she has been and I would identify her not only as one of the top female coaches in the college game, but one of the top collegiate coaches overall" says current Purdue head coach Richard Moodie, who Thomsit played under at Carson-Newman. "I truly believe in Sam and the impact she can have on any program fortunate enough to hire her. Any institution would be making an exceptional hire by bringing Sam into their program"
Originally from Trowbridge, England, Thomsit is an FA Level 1 and USSF B-licensed coach and has her NSCAA Level 2 Goalkeeping Diploma. She brings over a decade of high-level coaching experience to GWU and will arrive at Gardner-Webb with her husband, Walker
"I am incredibly excited and honored to take over the Gardner-Webb women's soccer program," said Thomsit. Gardner-Webb is a special institution with a rich history and a program that has experienced tremendous competitive success, and I am grateful for the opportunity to lead it into its next chapter"
"I would like to sincerely thank Brendan Fahey for believing in me, trusting me with this opportunity, and allowing me to lead this program. I would like to thank all of Spring Hill college and Joe Niland for their continued support during my 4 years. Lastly, I want to thank my husband for his unwavering support and the sacrifices he has made to help me pursue this opportunity. I am incredibly grateful for everything he has done for me along this journey"
"I cannot wait to get to work with our student-athletes and become part of the Gardner-Webb community."
