From STAFF REPORTS

AMERICUS – Georgia Southwestern State University head women’s soccer coach, Samantha Snow, recently announced her resignation as she transitions into a full-time director role in youth soccer.
“My family and I have thoroughly enjoyed our years in Americus and at GSW,” Snow said. “It has been a privilege to work with such an exceptional athletics staff, from our athletic trainers and sports information department to my fellow coaches and to Ms. Debra (Sloan) and Christie (Ward), who knew everything I could possibly need.”
Snow completed her fourth season at the helm for the Lady Hurricanes in 2015.
“We are sorry to see Sam leave,” GSW athletic director Mike Leeder said. “I appreciate all of her hard work over the past four years. Sam will be missed by many, including the people she reached off campus with her several community initiatives.”
Snow and the GSW athletic department were presented with the Peach Belt Conference’s 2015 SunTrust Connecting Communities Award for the women’s soccer ‘Coat for a Coke’ initiative that provided winter coats to needy families in the Americus community.
Snow introduced the Kickeroos youth soccer program in 2013 that was designed as a parent-player participation activity. The program consisted of 45 minutes of soccer activities centered around learning basic soccer skills and agility while having fun in order to capture a child’s interest in the game. This year, Snow and the women’s soccer team offered the program to two different age groups, kids ages 3-4 and 5-7.
Her most recent endeavor was a “Light It Up Blue” spring exhibition game for GSW women’s soccer as part of World Autism Day. The Lady Hurricanes sold #LightItUpBlue T-shirts and raised money for the Central Georgia Autism Center of Navicent Health which provides education, therapy, and counseling for autistic children and their families.
“I want to thank everyone for their support, encouragement and understanding as I transition out of the college game to provide better opportunities for our daughter, who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder in December,” Snow said. “I am extremely appreciative for Coach Leeder and his guidance and support and I promise to pay it forward.”
Under Snow’s leadership, the Lady Hurricanes won the Peach Belt Team Sportsmanship Award three times and placed 14 players on All-Academic teams.
“It was not an easy decision to leave our Hurricane family,” Snow said. “We will miss them all and I wish everyone the very best of luck. To my girls, I love you and I can’t wait to see what you accomplish this fall.”