Jan. 21, 2000
Barbara Chura, assistant women?s soccer coach at Texas Tech since 1997 and a 1993 graduate of Connecticut, has been named assistant women?s soccer coach at Notre Dame, head coach Randy Waldrum announced Friday. Chura replaces Sue-Moy Chin and will begin her duties immediately, joining second-year assistant coach Amy Edwards on Waldrum?s staff. She will assist Waldrum with recruiting and on-field coaching in addition to working in the organization of the summer camps.
?We are really excited to have someone of Barb?s caliber join us,? said Waldrum, the 1999 BIG EAST coach of the year. ?Like Amy Edwards, she has the ability to be a head coach, so Barb will be a huge benefit to our program.?
Chura coached five seasons at Texas Tech in two stints with the Red Raiders, her second assignment lasting from 1997-99. She assisted in all aspects of recruiting, practice sessions, scheduling and camp administration and supervision. Prior to returning to Texas Tech, Chura served as the assistant coach at James Madison for the 1996 season when the Dukes advanced to the NCAA tournament round of 16 and finished as the 14th-ranked team in the country. She first coached at Texas Tech during the 1994 and 1995 seasons, the first two years in the program?s history.
The native of Clifton Park, N.Y., served as a student assistant coach at Connecticut for the 1993 season after starring for the Huskies from 1989-92. She helped Connecticut reach the 1990 NCAA title game and finish among the top 10 ranked teams all four years. Chura served as team captain for the ?92 season and finished her playing days at Connecticut fourth on the all-time assist list and 21st on the scoring list.
Chura, who received a master?s of education degree in sports administration from Texas Tech in 1996, also had been active in numerous camps and clinics throughout the country and worked summer soccer camps at Notre Dame in 1997 and 1999. She has served in a variety of coaching roles in Olympic development programs both in Texas and Connecticut.