MOBILE, Ala. – After spending two seasons as graduate assistant coach for the University of South Alabama soccer program, Jo Chubb has been promoted to assistant coach for the 2015 season, head coach Graham Winkworth announced Thursday.

Chubb joined the staff in 2013 as a graduate assistant shortly after a distinguished playing career under Winkworth at North Alabama.

"I am absolutely delighted to be adding Jo to the staff fulltime," Winkworth said. "She is one of the biggest signings I have ever made as a player and I am delighted to keep her in a coaching capacity.

"I performed a very long and detailed search for this assistant position. I needed somebody that could not only coach at a very high standard, but also identify what a talented footballer looks like. This is a very difficult skill to master. Jo is one of the best young coaches in America. Through the process it was very clear she was a strong candidate with her Division I coaching experience on the field and her strong education academically and professionally."

The program's totals of 122 goals and 347 points since she arrived are the best over a two-year span in school history, and she has coached the last two Sun Belt Freshmen and Offensive Players of the Year.

Chubb played a large part in the South Alabama offense exploding for a league-high 54 goals, 55 assists and 163 points in 2013, totals that rank fourth, third and fourth, respectively, in school history.

The Jaguars led the conference in all six offensive categories and placed in the top 20 in the nation in goals (18th), assists (6th) and points per match (12th).

Two players, Lauren Allison and Clarissa Hernandez, placed in the top 10 in the Sun Belt Conference in goals, assists and points, with Allison leading the league in all three categories en route to SBC Freshman and Offensive Player of the Year honors.

Allison's season earned a spot in the top five in three of South Alabama's single-season categories: third in points (43), tied for second in goals (16) and fifth in assists (11), while ranking 12th, 25th and 28th, respectively, in the nation in those categories.

The offense was able to improve on those numbers in 2014 as the Jaguars paced the conference in points (184) and goals (68)—ranking seventh and fifth in the nation, respectively—and was second in assists (48).

Freshmen Chardé Hannah and Rio Hardy both ranked in the top three in the Sun Belt in points and goals, and in the top five in assists. Hannah became the second consecutive Jaguar to earn the league's freshman and offensive player of the year, and her goal (20) and point (47) totals were second in school history.

Chubb played four seasons under Winkworth at North Alabama, each season earning All-South Region designation from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Before her collegiate career with the Lions, Chubb played for Reading FC Women from 2006-09, helping lead the fledgling program to a Southern Region Premier Division title in its first year of existence. The club gained promotion to the premier levels of women's football the following season after an unbeaten campaign saw the outfit win the South West Combination League to become South West England Champions.

Prior to her term at Reading FC, Chubb attended Chelsea Football Club's Girls' Center for Excellence from 2002-06. At UNA, Chubb was four times named to the All-Gulf South Conference first team, twice named GSC All-Tournament and, in 2012, she was named GSC Tournament MVP. In 2011, she was named Academic All-GSC. As a player, Chubb was paramount for the Lions over a four-year span that saw the squad make four NCAA Regional appearances and claim the program's first-ever GSC Tournament title.

"She has been with me for six years now in a playing capacity and as a graduate assistant at both the DII and DI levels," Winkworth said. "During that period we have been to six conference championship matches (winning three), won two regular season titles and three conference championships, while making six NCAA Tournaments.

"With her playing for one for the top clubs in the world in Chelsea at a young age, she brings a different experience to the program along with extensive recruiting contacts. Jo understands the way in which I think now and I see her as an extension to me with the team. She is extremely loyal and it is my hope that we can continue to win many more championships together here at South Alabama."

Chubb received a bachelor's degree in communication arts from UNA in May 2013 and earned a master's degree from South Alabama in health education in May 2015. She holds USSF E and D Coaching Licenses, USSF Goalkeeping Licenses 1 and 2 and an AHSAA Referee certificate. From September 2012 until her appointment at USA, Chubb served as an Olympic Development Program coach in Decatur, Ala. Beginning in 2010, she developed coaching experience at Paul Harbin Soccer Camps and Graham Winkworth Residential Soccer Camps.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

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