On February 12, 2013, Sam Lopes was hired as the University of New Hampshire women's soccer head coach. Lopes, who has over 11 years of women's soccer coaching experience at the collegiate and professional level, has a broad-based coaching résumé including, most recently, serving as the top assistant at BIG EAST member Providence College.

Lopes recently concluded his second season at PC. In his first season with the Friars, Lopes assisted the team to their first BIG EAST Tournament game since 1994. Providence then defeated Rutgers, 1-0, to advance to the quarterfinals. He also helped coach Jenna Roncarati to her third consecutive All-BIG EAST honors. At Providence, Lopes assisted with recruiting, scouting, travel and budgeting, as well as monitor academic progress and planning team training and individual workouts.

Prior to his arrival in Providence, Lopes was the head assistant women's coach at Southern Connecticut State University from 2005-2011. He was highly involved in recruiting, planning off-season training and helped establish the Freshman Athletic Scholastic Training (F.A.S.T.) academic program.

Lopes, a 2002 graduate of Quinnipiac University, received a bachelor's degree in Computer Information Systems. He was a four-year member of the soccer team and was a captain during his senior season. After playing at Quinnipiac, Lopes went on to play in the United States Soccer Leagues for the Connecticut Wolves and the Westchester Flames.

He began his coaching career in 2002 as an assistant at Saint Joseph College in West Hartford, Conn.  Additionally, Lopes served as an assistant coach with the Boston Breakers (2010-11), Quickstrike Lady Blues (2009) and New England Mutiny (2007-08).

What People Are Saying About Coach Lopes:
 
“Sam is one of the most talented young coaches I have had the opportunity to work with in the past 39 years of college athletics. He is smart, passionate and has an uncanny ability to bring out the best in everyone that comes in contact with him. UNH has hired one the best up and coming women's soccer coaches in the nation.”  
Bob Driscoll - Director of Athletics Providence College

“Sam Lopes is one of the very bright, up and coming, stars of collegiate coaching.  He has a great soccer pedigree as a player and has always been a student of the game.  He creates teams that play with sophistication, purchase and play attractive soccer.  The UNH program is in good hands.”
Tony DiCicco
Founder, Director – SoccerPlus Goalkeeper School and FieldPlayer Academy
USA National Team Coach – ’96 Olympic Gold; ’99 World Cup Champions; ’08 U20 World Cup Champions
 
” Sam Lopes brings a great balance of soccer expertise, personality, and commitment.  Sam's strengths coupled with the athletic department's support and enthusiasm for their soccer programs is a winning combination for this program for the future.”
Alison Foley
Head Women’s Soccer Coach – Boston College
 
“I first knew Sam as a player at Quinnipiac and since then I have followed his coaching career at SCSU and Providence College with interest. Too many inexperienced coaches are promoted to a head coach role without having paid their dues or pursued their coaching qualifications.  This is not the case with Sam.
 
He has put in his time as an assistant at the college level and has also become an excellent student and teacher of the game.  Sam has earned and deserves the chance to lead his own program.  The experience he has picked up as a college player and assistant added to the experience he gained working with former US National team coach, Tony DiCicco and the Boston Breakers will help him to be successful with New Hampshire.  I look forward to following his continued progress”
Dave Clarke
Head Women’s Soccer Coach – Quinnipiac University
US National Staff Instructor