WILMINGTON, North Carolina – UNCW women's soccer assistant coach Colin Barnes has joined the United States Youth Soccer Association as a South Region technical advisor in its Olympic Development Program (ODP).

Barnes, who will enter his third season with the Seahawks next fall, will work with the girls ODP for U.S. Youth Soccer.

"This is a great opportunity for Colin and our UNCW program," said Head Coach Chris Neal. "Working with, and developing, some of the nation's best youth players is a very rewarding experience."

The ODP has a core purpose of identifying and providing opportunities for high potential players. The program boasts top-tier coaches from throughout the United States. Its alumni coaches include recently-named United States Women's National Team head coach Emma Hayes.

Barnes holds two decades of soccer playing and coaching experience. The Hoover, Ala., native has coached, taught, or played at the youth, collegiate, professional, and international levels, including with U.S. Soccer as a Coach Educator. Barnes also spent four years as a Senior Lecturer of Football Coaching at Solent University in Southampton, England.

Barnes was a four-year letterwinner at UNC Asheville from 1998 to 2001. He was named to the Big South First-Team as a junior and senior after leading the Bulldogs with 12 assists across two seasons. The Bulldogs increased their win total in each of Barnes' four seasons, culminating with the program's first Big South regular season championship in his senior year.

Barnes earned his Bachelor of Science in Atmospheric Sciences from UNC Asheville in May 2002. In December 2013, he graduated from Columbus with a Master's in Teaching. Barnes completed his Ph.D. in Sport Pedagogy at Alabama in 2022.