Erinn Garner, a 1999 graduate of Redan High School, is the new women's soccer coach at Howard University.

The former DeKalb County girl's soccer Player of the Year attended Howard on a soccer scholarship where she completed four productive years as a player. Her list of achievements included All-Conference 1st team in 1999, Rookie of the Year in 1999 and team MVP in 2001.

After graduating in 2004 with a bachelor of science in physical therapy, Garner became the team's personal trainer and assistant coach. When Howard's 11-year women's soccer coach, Michelle Street, resigned in May, Garner received the promotion.

Street said Garner is Howard's "first real legitimate soccer player."

Garner said she had been eyeing the head coaching job ever since she got to Howard.

"It was definitely something I wanted to try," she said. "But I didn't really know how realistic it was."

Now in a position to make administrative decisions, Garner said she will begin to focus the program's recruiting efforts locally.

Currently, red-shirt sophomore Alyssa Fortune of Decatur high school is the only Georgia student in the Bison's rotation.

Garner said her predecessor wasn't really too big on Southern recruiting, but that she is interested in looking south for recruits.

"As far as I know, two of the better players from the program have come from Georgia," she said.

With only a summer to make the transition from trainer/assistant to head honcho, Garner said it's tough getting used to the administrative duties of her new job.

"Going from making comments to making decisions is interesting, but it's fun," she said.

As of press time, the Howard women's soccer team was winless with a record of 0-6-0 and has been marred by injuries to four of its 15 players. Despite the fact, Garner has a positive outlook for the rest of the season, and for the future.

"There is so much potential, but they just don't know how to put it together yet," she said. "It is my hope that we will turn it around within the next three of four games."