MARSHALL, Texas – East Texas Baptist University has announced the hiring of Joey Petrich as the new Head Women's Soccer Coach, following the departure of Kristin Cox, who is stepping away from collegiate coaching due to family commitments.  Cox served at ETBU for the past eight years, with the last five as head coach. 
 
"I cannot thank Coach Cox enough for her hard work, dedication, and commitment to the ETBU Women's Soccer program over the last eight years.  Although we are going to miss Kristin and her leadership within the program and the love she had for all of her student-athletes, we are excited for her and her family in this new endeavor," ETBU Vice President for Student Engagement and Athletics Ryan Erwin said.

Cox went 35-30-14 and leaves with the third most wins as a head coach in program history. She started as an assistant coach under former head coach Erik Solberg in 2016 and was named the head coach in December 2018. In her five seasons as head coach, she has produced four seasons with records .500 or above and was named the 2021 Spring American Southwest Conference Coach of the Year. ETBU has been regionally ranked, won an ASC Tournament match, and produced 38 All-ASC players including seven first-team selections during that time. 
 
"I am so thankful for everything ETBU has blessed my family and I with over the past eight seasons. This program has been so much more than a soccer team. It's been our family, from the staff above, below, and beside us, to our players and supporters, and we could not have asked for a better family or place to grow. Thank you for everything, from the great moments and celebrations to even the hard learning moments, it's all better shaped me and my family for the future," says Cox. "ETBU has been our life and home and the 100+ ETBU Women's Soccer players I've had the blessing to coach have all made an impact on my life. They are incredible lights for Christ and I couldn't be prouder. Some now are teachers, coaches, nurses, physical therapist, doctors or in med school, wives, parents, or off on their own great adventures locally and abroad. What an incredible journey our family has had at ETBU! To be a part of the growth at ETBU under Dr. Blackburn and Ryan Erwin has been a blessing. The amount of support they have given our family is irreplaceable and we are so very thankful for them."
 
Taking over the program will be Petrich who is currently serving on the East Texas FCA staff and volunteering as a coach for the Tyler Junior College women's soccer team. He brings a wealth of soccer knowledge to ETBU with a USSF National License and NSCAA Levels 1-3 Goalkeeper diploma.
 
"I am excited to announce Joey Petrich as the new head coach for the Tiger women's soccer program," Erwin said.  "Joey's vision and passion for Christ-centered athletics and philosophy for developing student-athletes, both on and off the field, makes him a perfect fit for ETBU Soccer," Erwin added. "We are looking forward to the future of the Tiger women's soccer program under Coach Petrich's leadership. I am confident in his abilities to lead the program because of his commitment to excellence and Christian sports discipleship."
 
Cox says on Petrich, "I can't wait to see what the Lord brings to ETBU women's soccer under the Leadership of the Petrich Family. Joey and Caitlin are dear friends and I know they will be able to love, care for, and mentor this program like no one else! I've been praying they join me at ETBU for years and when this opportunity was open I could not have been more ecstatic to leave the program in their hands. Our current class of 2024 is already so incredible, on and off the field, and leaving them in great hands is so comforting! I already love each of you so much and am so thankful for the short time our lives/paths have crossed and I can't wait to see what ETBU brings in your future."
 
For the past three years, Petrich has been the East Texas FCA staff serving the campuses of UT Tyler and Tyler Junior College and staying heavily involved coaching women's soccer at the junior college level. At TJC, the goal keepers have been his main concentration as the program has gone 60-2-3 in that time winning the 2021 NJCAA Division I National Championship. During the 2022 season, he coached NJCAA Division I All-American goal keeper Daniella Wilken.
 
Petrich's first collegiate coaching position came at Concordia University (Moorhead) in 2015 where he coached the first player to be named All-Conference as a goalie in Ben Glogoza. He then went to UT Tyler in 2016 as an assistant coach through 2019. The Patriots went 40-18-10 in that time and received a berth in the 2017 NCAA Division III National Tournament after being the American Southwest Conference tournament runners-up. That season, UT Tyler went 11-4-3 in their final NCAA Division III season before transitioning to NCAA Division II in 2018. In the first two years at UT Tyler, he coached two USC All-Americans in Lucas Pereira (2016, 2017) and Leandro Cid-Fernandez (2016) along with having the ASC Goalkeeper of the Year in John McGuffin (2016).

The Elk River, Minn., native played collegiately at Saint Mary's University which is a NCAA Division III program in the MIAC. He was a four-year player for the Cardinals in goal recording 135 saves and was a two-time MIAC Academic All-Conference member.

He is married to his wife, Caitlin, and they have three children in daughter, Piper (4), and two sons, Thomas (3), and Ezra (1).