Louisiana Soccer announces Stephen Salas as associate head coach

LAFAYETTE – University of Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns women’s soccer head coach Lance Key announced the promotion of Stephen Salas to associate head coach of the program.

The promotion of Salas is subject to approval from the University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors.

Salas, who joined the program as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator in 2019, has been a part of the resurgence of the Ragin’ Cajuns program which made its first two semifinal appearances in the Sun Belt Conference Championships in school history while producing back-to-back 9-win seasons.

“I am thrilled today to be in a position to congratulate Stephen Salas on his promotion to the position of Associate Head Coach,” Key said. “I continue to be impressed by the life he lives and example he sets to our community and our program.  He is a person of tremendous integrity, resolve, and authenticity.”

With Salas handling the Ragin’ Cajuns goalkeepers, Louisiana posted nine shutouts during the season, including a school-record seven straight while holding opponents scoreless for 724 consecutive minutes.

Freshman Lauryn Starwood replaced injured starter Jordan Higgins at goalkeeper for Louisiana five matches into the season and managed to set a single-season record for lowest goal against average (0.74) while pitching a combined eight shutouts.

In his inaugural season with the Ragin’ Cajuns, Salas was instrumental in the development of senior keeper Mackenzie Lee, who set the then lowest GAA (1.16) in a single-season while Louisiana pitched a school-record eight shutouts.

“Coach Salas has consistently proven over the better part of the last decade to be a tireless learner, forward-thinking professional and determined competitor. When I was fortunate enough to hire him two years ago, I was confident that he was not just a great hire, but perhaps more importantly the right fit for our program and for me. Our collective purpose has been to reach a level of success on the field and significance in the lives of the young women in this program far beyond the imaginable.”

Before joining the Louisiana program, Salas spent six seasons at Abilene Christian along with six years as a player and eventually a coach at his alma mater, Hardin-Simmons.