TAMIU Hires First Women's Soccer Coach

Texas A&M International University athletic director Steve Garippa announced this morning that Sandra Forestier has accepted the position as TAMIU's first head women's soccer coach. Women's soccer will play its first season this fall, along with men's soccer and women's volleyball.

Forestier accepts the challenge of launching the TAMIU program with four years of experience as the head girls' coach at Harlendale High School in San Antonio. She has orchestrated a turnaround at Harlendale, guiding the Lady Indians to their first-ever winning record this season at 15-3 (7-1 in District 28-5A). Harlendale has already secured a spot in the University Interscholastic League (U.I.L.) Bi-District Playoffs.

In addition to coaching girls' soccer, Forestier also gained experience teaching physical education and coaching junior varsity and varsity cross country at Harlendale.

Garippa said that Forestier is a perfect fit to guide the Dustdevil program through its formative years.

"Sandra has the experience and enthusiasm that is needed in a new program, " Garippa said, "She will represent TAMIU well and play an integral role in building a program that we can all be proud of."

University president Dr. Ray Keck said Forestier's addition was exciting and part of the University's continued growth as a traditional four-year University.

"Athletics brings a new dynamic to our campus, enabling us to more fully provide for the total needs of all students through an engaging and innovative athletics program. The women's soccer program is one more element in that new dynamic, and we look forward to its addition," Dr. Keck explained.

Forestier participated as a student-athlete in cross country at University of Texas - Pan American after graduating from Corpus Christi's Mary Carroll High School.

After her collegiate athletic career was cut short due to injury, she went on to earn a bachelor's in Kinesiology and reading from Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi and a master's in Educational Administration from Texas A&M University - Kingsville. Forestier began her teaching and coaching career at Corpus Christi's Incarnate Word Academy High School in 1992.

She is married to Eric Forestier, currently a teacher with the San Antonio Independent School District and head baseball coach at Highland High School. He is the former head baseball coach at Trinity University.

Forestier is scheduled to start her duties at TAMIU April 1.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu