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USF's women soccer team jumps right into this season against defending national champ FSU

The Bulls launch the Chris Brown era as he takes over after 17 seasons as the associate head coach with USF.

By Dylan Spaulding

The Florida State Seminoles in last season's NCAA semifinal game against Clemson. FSU won the national title and opens this season against USF.
The Florida State Seminoles in last season's NCAA semifinal game against Clemson. FSU won the national title and opens this season against USF. / Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat / USA TODAY NETWORK
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After spending many years as an assistant for USF women's soccer, Chris Brown is about to get his first shot as a head coach.

And, gulp, it's against defending national champion Florida State on August 15. At least it's a home game for the Bulls at USF's Corbett Stadium. The Seminoles enter this season as the unanimous No. 1-ranked team in the United Soccer Coaches poll.

"I'm kind of rethinking my decision (to schedule FSU)," Brown said with a chuckle when asked taking on such a traditional powerhouse in USF's first game.

But Brown said he believes his team is up to the task. The Bulls were picked second in the preseason American Athletic Conference poll, but they did pick up a first-place vote. Defender Georgia Brown, midfielder Sadie Sider-Echenberg, and forward/midfielder Serita Thurton were named to the AAC's watch list.

"I think we're quite strong in the midfield," he said. "I would put our midfield up against anybody in the country."

Brown takes over after spending 17 seasons as the Associate Head Coach to Denise Schilte-Brown, who had a 184-97-43 record and eight NCAA Tournament appearances. She left to head coach of the Tampa Bay Sun, the new entry in the USL Super League.

But if Chris Brown needs to check out some things with the former USF coach, he doesn't to go far. They are married to each other.

"I'm blessed to have the way it played out," he said. "I couldn't ask for a better group of players to transition with. They've gained my trust and I feel like I've gained theirs. So it was seamless (transition) and I'm really thankful for that. And even though Denise is not with us, I still obviously have the ability to turn to her and ask for her thoughts.

"That doesn't necessarily mean I'm going to be, 'Oh, I going to change my thoughts.' But having a resource like Denise to bounce ideas off off has really made it comfortable as well."

Having two high-level opponents in exhibition play, such as Florida and the Sun, should have provided a solid blueprint for Coach Brown heading into next Thursday’s highlight game against the Seminoles.

As for the men’s side, Head Coach Bob Buthehorn finishes his team’s slate of exhibitions with the NAIA’s Southeastern from Lakeland and Georgia Southern from the Sun Belt.