Arizona assistant soccer coach Lisa Oyen has been promoted to an associate head coaching position, UA head coach Dan Tobias announced yesterday.

“”(Lisa) deserves it and the time was right,”” Tobias said of the promotion in a phone interview. “”We have been working together for a long time now and she is one of the best people I’ve met in the sport.””

Tobias said that Oyen has had the opportunities to coach elsewhere but has remained loyal to the UA program. She’s been a member of Tobias’ coaching staff for the past seven seasons – five at Arizona and two at Washington State before that.

As an associate head coach, Oyen – who played soccer at Montana for four seasons before graduating in 1998 – will be relieved of some of her administrative responsibilities and will be doing more coaching and recruiting, Tobias said.

“”It is an honor to work for an athletic department that has such a strong dedication to its staff members and student-athletes alike,”” Oyen said in a press release. “”I am very excited about the future of Arizona soccer and very proud to be a part of Wildcat athletics.””