KERNERSVILLE, N.C. -- UT Tyler head women's soccer coach Stefani Webb has been named as the recipient of the National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association/National Soccer Coaches Association of America National Merit Award.  Webb is the first female coach to receive this award since its inception.

According to the NISOA website, the NISOA/NSCAA Coach of the Year Award goes to the coach that best exemplifies the following:

- Promotes fair play by his or her team

- Conducts themselves in a professional manner at all times

- Is a positive influence to the student-athletes

- Promotes respect for the game and the referees to his or her players

- Consistently fields a good team

Webb helped the Patriots to arguably their best season ever, going 14-5-1 overall and 11-1 in American Southwest Conference play, finishing as runner-up in the conference.

This season, Webb coached 11 All-ASC performers and had three players named to the NSCAA All-Region team.

Coach Webb will receive the award at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Convention on Thursday, January 17, 2013 in Indianapolis.