Tony Economopoulos
Tony Economopoulos
Title: Head Coach
Phone: (229) 931-2936
Email: tecon@canes.gsw.edu

Economopoulos begins his third season at the helm of the Lady Hurricanes. He is coming off a season that saw his Lady Hurricanes set schools records for fewest goals allowed in a season, lowest goals against average, and most corner kicks in a game. This past season also saw goals allowed decrease 58%, goals allowed per game decrease 46%, opponents shot percentage decrease 45.5%, opponents shots on goal decrease 32%, and attendance rise 19.1%

Economopoulos came to GSW from Oklahoma State University where he served as an assistant coach for two years. In his last season, Oklahoma State finished the season with a school record 18 wins and an 18-1-4 record. The Cowgirls compiled a 7-1-2 record in Big 12 Conference play to claim their first-ever regular season conference championship and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Women's Soccer Championship for the third straight season. OSU led the nation in scoring offense at 3.22 goals per game and the defense posted 10 shutouts. The Cowgirls improved their goals against average from 2007 by 12 percent to 0.75. He recruited and signed United States U-20 Women's National Team goal keeper Adrianna Franch.

In Economopoulos' first season in Stillwater, OSU tied for the Big 12 Conference lead with 10 shutouts, and the Cowgirls ranked second in the league with a 0.84 goals against average. Goalkeeper Erin Stigler also tied for the Big 12 lead in shutouts with seven and became the school's all-time shutouts leader.

Economopoulos came to Stillwater after serving as top assistant men's soccer coach at Bowling Green State University for four years.

A native of Oklahoma City, Economopoulos was a two-sport star in soccer and football at Putnam City North High School. He played his collegiate soccer at Oklahoma City University and helped lead the Stars to a Sooner Athletic Conference championship. Economopoulos also played semi-professionally in the USISL with the Oklahoma City Slickers and the Oklahoma City Warriors.

Upon his graduation from OSU in 1997, Economopoulos was hired as a head coach for the ESC Royals, where he also trained the goalkeepers. He coached three different teams to the State Cup title and led one squad to the Region III finals.

In 1999, Economopoulos was hired at Edmond Santa Fe High School. The Wolves compiled a record of 35-9-1 from 1999-2001 and were ranked as high as third nationally by USA Today in '99. During his time at Santa Fe, he also served as the state goalkeeper coach for the Olympic Development Program, where he selected and trained all the goalkeepers in the program.

Economopoulos made his collegiate coaching debut in 2001 where he assisted the men's team at Western Illinois University. He served as the goalkeeper coach and the recruiting coordinator, and in 2002 his efforts were rewarded as he was nominated for the AFLAC Insurance National Assistant Coach of the Year Award.

In 2003, Economopoulos left for Bowling Green, where he assumed additional responsibilities aside from his coaching duties. He was the NSCAA Great Lakes Regional Chair, the site coordinator for the United States Soccer Federation's National Coaching School and was the site coordinator for the U.S. Youth Soccer Region II Symposium.

Economopoulos also briefly served as the interim head coach at Bowling Green in the spring of 2004, and the following season, the Falcons were recognized as one of the most improved Division I soccer teams in the country.

Economopoulos currently possesses a National "B" Coaching License from the United States Soccer Federation and has been a member of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America since 2001. He is also on the USYSA Region III coaching staff.

Economopoulos and his wife, Holly, reside in Americus. The couple's first child, Dominic, was born in September 2007 and their second child, Alexa, was born in June 2009. 

 

Special thanks to Oklahoma State University Sports Information for their contribution to this piece