WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Former Tribe standout and William & Mary Hall of Famer Erica Walsh Dambach '97 will serve as an assistant coach for the United States Women's National Team in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which kicked off on Wednesday.

"We are incredibly proud and excited for Erica to once again represent the United States and women's soccer at the Olympics," head coach Julie Shackford said. "She is a great representative of William & Mary who continues to accomplish remarkable things. Despite the team's difficult start, we know they will bounce back and continue to do us proud."

Dambach has extensive experience with the national team. She served as an assistant during 2020-21, including the Olympic Qualifiers. She was an assistant for the U.S. in winning the 2008 gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. Dambach also worked with the U.S. Olympic team during the qualifying stage in 2012 after serving as an assistant coach at the 2011 FIFA World Cup. She has also served as the head coach of the U.S. U17 National Team and as an assistant with both the U19 and U20 national teams.
 
Dambach was inducted into W&M's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010. She enjoyed a stellar career, leading the Tribe to four CAA Championships and four appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including an Elite Eight showing in 1994. Over her four-year, W&M was 57-25-2. Dambach was a two-time All-CAA First Team selection and was named all-region in 1996.
 
Dambach is currently the head coach at Penn State, leading to Nittany Lions to a 231-76-21 record over 14 seasons. In 2015, she led the program to its first NCAA Championship. Penn State owns 11 Big Ten regular-season titles and qualified for NCAA Tournament all 14 years under Dambach. She has twice been named the National Coach of the Year in 2012 and 2015.
 
After an opening match setback to Sweden, the United States faces New Zealand on Saturday, July 24. The match kicks off a 7:30 a.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on NBCSN and Telemundo. The U.S.'s final group game is against Australia on Tuesday, July 27, at 4 a.m. on the USA Network and Telemundo.
 
The Olympic quarterfinals are set for July 30 with the semifinals to follow on Monday, Aug. 2. The bronze medal game is Aug. 5, and the gold medal game on Aug. 6.