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BYU women's soccer coach Jennifer Rockwood didn't have to look far for a replacement for assistant coach Chris Watkins, who left the program on Dec. 12 to become Gonzaga's new head coach.
Friday, Rockwood announced that she has hired Utah Valley head women's soccer coach Brent Anderson, luring the successful UVU coach after more than a decade at the school just down University Parkway from BYU.
"He comes with tremendous experience at the Division I level, having built the program at Utah Valley," Rockwood said. "I look forward to incorporating his perspective and new ideas that will help continue to build our program and develop our student athletes at the highest level."
Utah Valley will begin a national search for Anderson's successor, the school announced shortly after BYU's announcement Thursday.
Anderson joins a BYU staff that also includes assistant coach Aleisha Rose and volunteer assistants McKinzie Olson and Rachel Jorgensen.
Anderson compiled a 110-100-14 record in 11 seasons leading UVU's program, and tallied a 44-14-4 conference record over eight seasons. The Wolverines were 24-12-3 in UVU's four seasons in the Western Athletic Conference.
"I am humbled by this new opportunity and excited about the prospect of working with coach Rockwood and Aleisha at BYU," Anderson said. "Jennifer has built a successful and accomplished program and I'm hoping to contribute positively to its success."
Anderson has also been as assistant coach at Utah State, and played on the Aggies' men's soccer club team as a goalkeeper.
"I am deeply grateful to all those that I've been blessed to associate with during my time at UVU," he said in a school news release. "The administrators, coaches, trainers, advisors, staff and athletes are second to none, they are simply amazing people. We have experienced extraordinary growth over the past decade and created so many special moments and memories that will stay with me forever. I need to express my gratitude to all of my student athletes for their trust, hard work and investment to build the program and achieve both academically and athletically here at UVU. I am looking forward to all they will accomplish in the future."