STEPHENVILLE, Texas – Tarleton State has tabbed Erik Solberg as head coach for Texan Women's Soccer, the second head coach in program history.
 
"Erik Solberg greatly impressed us throughout our coaching search, and I'm proud to announce he will be the next head coach for Tarleton State Soccer," Tarleton State Vice President and Director of Athletics Steve Uryasz said. "Coach Solberg knows how to lead, develop, and recruit, essentially the three pillars of being an elite head coach, and we believe he'll shine at Tarleton State in this role. I'm excited to welcome him back to Texas, where he has spent a portion of his career, and further elevate our program."
 
Solberg arrives in Stephenville after spending two seasons as head coach at Gardner-Webb (2024-25), four seasons at Arkansas Pine-Bluff (2020-23), one season at Northwestern Oklahoma State (2019), and three seasons at East Texas Baptist (2016-18).
 
"Erik Solberg will bring professionalism and energy that will give our student-athletes the best experience and keep growing our women's soccer program," Tarleton State Deputy Athletic Director Eric Heier said. "I'm really looking forward to working alongside Coach Solberg, who we've heard nothing but great things about. We want to welcome him, his wife Shelby, and their three children to Stephenville."
 
Solberg will lead a Texan Soccer program entering its fifth season of competition. Tarleton State finished 7-7-6 last year after a 9-8-3 campaign and WAC Tournament appearance in 2024.
 
"I'm honored and humbled to be named the next head women's soccer coach at Tarleton State University," Solberg said. "I want to sincerely thank Vice President and Director of Athletics Steve Uryasz and Deputy Athletic Director Eric Heier for their trust and belief in my vision for this program. Tarleton State is a special place with a clear commitment to excellence and deep investment in both athletics and academics. I am excited to build on the existing foundation as we establish a program that can consistently compete at the top of the United Athletic Conference. I'd also like to say thank you to my family, especially my wife Shelby for their constant support and encouragement. Our family is thrilled to be joining the Tarleton community, and I can't wait to get to work!"
 
Solberg has coached the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs for the past two seasons, going 4-11-3 last year after a 4-11-4 campaign in 2024. Gardner-Webb finished 3-3-2 in Big South action last season to qualify for the Big South Tournament for the first time since 2022. The Runnin' Bulldogs had two named All-Big South, plus an All-Big South Freshman Team honoree.
 
"Erik is a consummate professional, who is equally appreciated by his players, their families, and alumni," Akron Director of Athletics and former Gardner-Webb Vice President and Director of Athletics Dr. Andrew T. Goodrich said. "His ability to create competitive team environments without draining the fun out of the experience makes him a unique leader in today's space. That will certainly help him recruit and retain great players in this new era of intercollegiate athletics."
 
At UAPB, Solberg spent four seasons at the helm, where he led the Golden Lions to a combined 28-44-2 record, including a pair of nine-win seasons in 2022 and 2023. Over the past 14 seasons, UAPB has reached nine wins three times, with Solberg in charge for two of those years. UAPB's 9-10-1 mark in 2022 was its best season since 2016, and the Golden Lions posted a 4-4-1 conference record, the program's best in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) play since 2015.
 
The 2022 season opened with a victory over Arkansas State, the program's first win over a NCAA Division I foe outside of conference play since 2011. Two matches later, Solberg helped make history at Tarleton State, as he was on the opposite bench for the Texans' first home game in program history on Aug. 25. The Texans defeated Solberg's Golden Lions in that game 6-0 in Stephenville, but he evened the record the following year, with his UAPB team beating the Texans in Pine Bluff 1-0. In 2023, the Golden Lions again finished with nine wins, completing the program's best two-year stretch since 2010-2011. That year, the Golden Lions led the SWAC in scoring, finishing 18th-nationally in total goals (49) and 20th-nationally in goals per game (2.33).
 
During his tenure at UAPB, Solberg coached 12 all-conference players, including a SWAC Offensive Player of the Year (2022), Defensive Player of the Year (2023), and Freshman of the Year (2022), with eight SWAC Player of the Week recognitions. Solberg is the only head coach in UAPB history to lead his team to four consecutive SWAC Tournament appearances.
 
"Erik Solberg is an outstanding person and coach who will represent Tarleton State with class and integrity," former UAPB Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Chris Peterson said.  
 
Prior to Pine Bluff, Solberg was the head coach at Northwestern Oklahoma State for one season (2019), where he led the Rangers to a 7-10-1 record, doubling the team's win total year-over-year and posting the program's highest win total since becoming a full NCAA Division II member. Four of Solberg's players earned all-conference recognition, including the Newcomer of the Year, as Northwestern Oklahoma posted its highest point total in conference play since 2004.
 
Solberg spent three seasons at NCAA Division III East Texas Baptist, where he went 27-21-7. In 2017, Solberg led the Tigers to a program-record 13 wins, including an upset victory over NCAA Division I Alcorn State. Under his leadership, two Tigers earned all-region honors and 17 players were named all-conference selections, including the American Southwestern Conference Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year.
 
"I want to congratulate Erik Solberg on his well-deserved opportunity to lead the program at Tarleton State University," East Texas Baptist Senior Vice President for Campus Life and Director of Athletics Ryan Erwin said. "When Coach Solberg was at ETBU, he demonstrated not only a deep understanding of the game, but also a commitment to developing student-athletes of character, discipline, and integrity. His leadership, work ethic, and passion for excellence left a lasting impact on our program and he has done the same at every program he's been a part of in his career.
 
"I am incredibly proud to see him take this next step in his career and am excited to welcome Erik, Shelby, and his family back to Texas," Erwin continued. "Tarleton State is gaining an outstanding coach and an even better person. We wish Erik, his family, and the entire Tarleton State soccer program continued success in this exciting new chapter."
 
Prior to his time at East Texas, Solberg was an assistant coach at East Central (2014-2015). He also served one season as a volunteer assistant at Nicholls State (2013).
 
A native of Arlington Heights, Illinois, Solberg was a student-athlete at Ole Miss, competing on the track and field and cross country teams. Solberg earned a bachelor's degree in liberal studies from Ole Miss in 2012, and a master's degree in education with a concentration in sports administration from East Central in 2015.