Toledo, Ohio – Former Rocket goalkeeper Sam Tiongson is joining the University of Toledo women's soccer program as an assistant coach, first-year head coach Mark Batman announced on Friday.

A Carmel, Ind. native, Tiongson was a member of the Rockets from 2012-15, and returns to the Glass City after serving as an assistant coach at Ohio Northern University under Batman during the 2022 season.

"Sam is a great addition to the Toledo women's soccer family," Batman said about his first assistant coach hire. "Being an alum, she has a strong sense of pride for this program and its history. Her knowledge of the Toledo community and her soccer awareness is a big part of why she is perfect for this role and opportunity. We are so fortunate to have her join our staff and look forward to years of success with her assistance."

"I am very grateful that Coach Batman wanted me back on his staff here at Toledo," Tiongson said. "He has so much experience and knowledge of the game that makes him to be an incredible mentor, along with being a great human being. I am excited to be here to help him with his vision for this program and getting back to the top of the MAC. Taking the job at Ohio Northern last year was one of the best decisions I could have made and it only made sense for me to join him at my alma mater."

Tiongson spent the 2022 season as an assistant coach under Batman, helping ONU to a 14-2-5 record and an Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) regular season title, the OAC tournament title, and a berth into the NCAA Tournament, where the Polar Bears advanced to the second round.

Prior to her time at Ohio Northern, Tiongson spent three seasons from 2019-21 as the head goalkeeping coach and assistant varsity coach at Sylvania Northview High School. She was named Northern Lakes League (NLL) 2019 Assistant Coach of the Year and NWOSSCA 2020 Assistant Coach of the Year. Tiongson made her coaching debut at St. Francis De Sales High School in 2017, and then was the goalkeeper and assistant varsity coach at Ottawa Hills High School for the 2018 season.

During her time at Toledo, Tiongson also worked with the Toledo Celtics Soccer Club (2014-19) training players ages 8-18 by creating, planning and running training sessions. Following her time with the Celtics, she went to Pacesetter Soccer Club where she had been working since 2019.

Tiongson graduated from Toledo in May 2016 with a degree in exercise science. She played professional soccer for the Toledo Villa FC Women's Team in 2017.

Tiongson ranks fifth in career wins (18) and saves (174), third in solo shutouts (13), and fourth in minutes played (4,957.21) at Toledo. She has the fifth-most minutes (1,842:45) played in a single season and fourth-most saves (13) in a single match. She appeared in 58 contests over her four seasons and was a two-time Academic All-MAC honoree.

"I am extremely excited to be back at Toledo and have the opportunity to be a part of the Women's Soccer program again in a new light," Tiongson said. "I am looking forward to working with the team, experiencing the new game-day atmosphere on campus, and continuing to build the relationships with Toledo women's soccer alumni."