FLORENCE, Ala. -- University of North Alabama Women's Soccer Coach Chris Walker has announced the hiring of former Jacksonville State assistant coach Tara McQueen as an assistant coach with the Lions.

McQueen fills the position vacated by Hollie Loud after seven years to join the coaching staff at Arizona State University.

McQueen joined the JSU program in the spring of 2022 after starting her coaching career with a three-year stint as a  graduate assistant coach at Valdosta State.

While with the Blazers, she helped lead VSU to three Gulf South Conference Tournament appearances and a berth in the 2021 NCAA South Regional. McQueen handled practice plans, film breakdown and worked with the goalkeepers at VSU. She mentored Molly Wooldridge, who was named the GSC Freshman of the Year. Over the last three seasons, VSU accumulated 26 wins, including eight GSC wins last fall. McQueen wore many hats on the NCAA Division II level from working with visiting teams to overseeing the program's travel needs. She has secured her US Soccer Grade E coaching license.

Prior to her time in the state of Georgia, McQueen worked with the Chantilly High School in Fairfax, Virginia in 2019 as an assistant coach and tutoring the goalkeepers. Her second stop on the prep level was Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burk, Virginia. Her first coaching experience came in 2016 with Radford High School.

McQueen began her collegiate career at Radford University before finishing her playing days at George Mason University and graduated in 2019.

McQueen is a native of Richmond, Virginia and attended Midlothian High School.