Abbey Barnum Announced as Head Women’s Soccer Coach

Women’s Soccer 3/6/2020 11:07:00 AM Ryan Shumaker
Abbey Barnum Announced as Head Women’s Soccer Coach

Eastern New Mexico athletic director Matt Billings is proud to announce Abbey Barnum as the next head coach of the Eastern New Mexico women’s soccer program.

Barnum becomes the seventh head coach in Eastern New Mexico women’s soccer program history and will take over for previous head coach Josh Smith, who resigned from his position to pursue other coaching opportunities earlier this semester. Barnum most recently served as the assistant women’s soccer coach at the University of Southern Mississippi and will assume duties as head coach at Eastern New Mexico University in the coming weeks.

“It is a tremendous honor to be named the head women’s soccer coach at Eastern New Mexico University.” Barnum said, “I look forward to getting started on this new journey and becoming a part of the Greyhound family. I want to thank Eastern New Mexico President and Chancellor Dr. Jeff Elwell, athletic director Matt Billings, as well as the entire ENMU staff for this opportunity and support.”

The Houston, Texas native will bring extensive ties to the Lone Star Conference and the region with her to Portales as she was a two-time Lone Star Conference regular season champion and two-time LSC Tournament champion as a player during her career at Midwestern State. Barnum also began her coaching career at nearby University of the Southwest as an assistant coach under former Eastern New Mexico women’s soccer head coach Josh Smith from 2017-to-2018.

“I’m thrilled that Abbey has agreed to be our next head women’s soccer coach at Eastern New Mexico.” Billings said, “She will be a great role model for our student-athletes and will continue to grow the program. Her experience with the Lone Star Conference and the state of New Mexico will be vital and I’m excited for the future of women’s soccer here at Eastern New Mexico!”

Barnum was instrumental in the revitalization of the University of the Southwest women’s soccer program, helping the program achieve a 13-3 record, the second highest win total in program history and the best conference record in program history at the time. During her time in Hobbs she also served as the athletic department’s Community Service Liaison and assisted the program in obtaining the 2018 ASA Champions of Charity Award.

Her track record of success as an assistant coach continued with her from 2018-to-2019 as she served as assistant coach at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tenn. and helped lead the team to a record of 9-5-3 and mentored three All-South Atlantic Region athletes. That squad finished second in the Southern Athletic Association and advanced to the SAA Conference Tournament final.

“The women’s soccer program at Eastern has so much potential and has a great group of student-athletes that I am eager to get to work with.” Barnum said, “These are exciting times for Eastern New Mexico women’s soccer as we continue to build upon past growth and I am thrilled to lead this program.”

She joined the women’s soccer staff at the University of Southern Mississippi last season and had a hand in leading the Golden Eagles to victories over SEC foes Mississippi State and Auburn as well as the development of three All-Conference USA performers. Barnum headed up the recruiting and fundraising efforts for the Southern Mississippi women’s soccer program as well as assisted with day-to-day operations of the program and travel accommodations.

Barnum holds a Bachelor’s of Business Administration with an emphasis in marketing from Midwestern State University and a Masters of Business Administration with an emphasis in Sports Management from the University of the Southwest.

She will inherit a program fresh off of back-to-back seasons of .500 or better records for the first time in program history and is a year removed from advancing to the LSC Tournament finals in 2018. The Hounds finished last season with a record of 8-8-1 and will return the 2019 LSC Newcomer of the Year in Desiree Morgas as well as 2018 All-LSC First Team selection Samantha Fabela and 2017 All-LSC First Team selection Keyara Zuniga.