- University of Tennessee at Chattanooga head coach Gavin McKinney announces the addition of Chattanoogan Josie Rix to the 2025 women’s soccer coaching staff as an assistant.
Rix spent the last three seasons as an assistant for the Florida Gators under Samantha Bohan. In 2023, Florida opened the campaign with a six-game unbeaten streak.
“We are excited to add Josie to our staff,” McKinney said. “I’ve known her for a long time through her time in the SoCon. She’s a top coach and an even better person.
She will do a phenomenal job for our squad and make an immediate impact.”
Prior to joining the Gators, Rix spent four seasons with Southern Conference foe Samford as associate head coach. The Bulldogs won the Southern Conference championship every season Rix was with Samford – 2018, 2019, 2021 (spring) and 2021 (fall). Samford claimed the SoCon Tournament crown in 2019 and fall of 2021 to advance to the NCAA Tournament.
The 2021 Bulldogs were the first team in 13 season to not drop a single point in SoCon Conference action. In 2021 NCAA action, Samford opened with a win over Auburn and dropped a penalty kicks decision to St. John’s in the second round. A trio of Bulldogs - Alyssa Frazier, Kylie Gazza and Taylor Yount – were named to 2021 NCAA Division I Women’s Southeast Region third team. The final RPI for the 2021 Bulldogs stood at No. 29.
Rix came to Samford after spending the 2017 season at Auburn as volunteer assistant coach. The Tigers advanced to the 2017 NCAA Second Round, losing to eventual NCAA champion Stanford.
An assistant coach at Wofford, another SoCon opponent, for three season (2015-17), Rix helped two-time All-Southern Conference honoree Hayley Younginer achieve the Terriers’ single season record 21 goals and 46 points in 2017.
Rix began her coaching career as a graduate assistant at Lee University, where she helped the team to a 15-4-2 overall record, a 10-1-0 Gulf South Conference record in 2014. The Flames went on to win the National Christian Colleges Athletic Association National Championship.
Rix holds a USSF E license and an NSCAA National diploma.
Rix started 40 matches for the University of Alabama from 2009 to 2012, helping the 2011 Crimson Tide earn its first NCAA Tournament berth since 1998. The midfielder was recognized on the 2011 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll and 2012 SEC Community Service team.
She spent the summer after graduating from Alabama playing semi-professional soccer for the Knoxville Lady Force.
A highly decorated star at Girls Preparatory School of Chattanooga, Tenn., she was inducted into the GPS Athletic Hall of Fame in April of 2019.
Rix replaces long-time assistant coach Martyn Blankley. Blankley arrived at Chattanooga in 2015 and helped the Mocs to 70 wins over that time and UTC’s first-ever SoCon regular season title in 2022.
In his 10 seasons at Chattanooga, the Mocs had a pair of Coach of the Year honors, two Defensive Player of the Year nods and the first-ever SoCon Freshman of the Year as well as 19 all-conference performers, 17 all-freshman selections and eight named to the SoCon All-Tournament team.
“Huge thanks to Martyn for his 10 years of service. He impacted many student-athletes greatly. We wish him all the best in this next phase of his life.”
Chattanooga hosts Winthrop in the season opener at Finley Stadium on August 14. The Mocs will also host Georgia State (Aug. 3) and Tennessee (Aug. 6) in a pair of preseason friendlies.
All UTC home games are free to attend and gates open one hour prior to kick off.