Mat Cosgriff enters his seventh season (2020) on the Hilltop after being named as an associate head coach/goalkeepers coach for the SMU’s women’s soccer team in April of 2014.

During 2019, Cosgriff helped SMU to a 12-7-1 overall and 4-5 conference finish. In goal, Cosgriff helped lead SMU to a 0.93 goals against average (GAA) (3rd AAC), the 5th best in SMU history, a .793 save percentage and 9 shutouts (3rd AAC), which is tied for 6th best in program history. Starting goalie Tatum Sutherland finished with 8 shutouts, a 1.00 GAA (4th AAC), which ties for 7th in SMU history, and a .779 save percentage. The Mustangs made an appearance in the postseason at the American Athletic Conference tournament semifinal match. Conference honors for SMU included two First-Team, two All-Rookie and two All-Tournament Team selections, including Sutherland, who was an All-Rookie selection.

In year four at SMU (2017), Cosgriff helped the Mustangs to its second consecutive 10 win season (10-7-3) for the first time since the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Following back-to-back wins against top-20 opponents to open the season, the Mustangs reached No. 22 in the United Soccer Coaches’ Poll, the first time being ranked since 2006. Working primarily with the goalies, Cosgriff helped lead SMU to a 1.20 goals against average (GAA) (5th AAC) and a .745 save percentage. Starting goalkeeper Catie Brown recorded eight shutouts (T1st AAC, 43rd NCAA), while boasting a 1.21 GAA (6th AAC) and a .728 save percentage. SMU finished the season with three wins against top-25 teams (No. 17 Arkansas, No. 16 Oklahoma and No. 21 Cincinnati). After finishing sixth overall in the regular-season, the Mustangs advanced to the American Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal for the fourth time in five seasons.

In his third season as an assistant coach (2016), Cosgriff helped lead the Mustangs to a 13-7-2 overall record en route to the first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2006. After finishing third overall in the regular-season (19 pts, 6-2-1), SMU finished as runner-ups at the American Athletic Conference Tournament. Cosgriff helped lead SMU to a 1.016 goals against average (GAA) (93rd NCAA, 4th AAC) and a .705 save percentage. Starting goalkeeper Catie Brown recorded four shutouts (T6th AAC), while boasting a 1.042 GAA (4th AAC, 109th NCAA) and a .697 save percentage. The Mustangs were ranked top-25 nationally in total goals (17th NCAA, 1st AAC), total assists (17th NCAA, 1st AAC), total points (18th NCAA, 1st AAC), points per game (18th NCAA, 2nd AAC), scoring offense (19th NCAA, 2nd AAC) and assists per game (24th NCAA, 1st AAC). Five student-athletes were named to AAC All-Conference teams, including Vanessa Valadez and freshman Allie Thornton who earned first team honors. Following the AAC Championship, four members were named to the AAC All-Tournament Team.

In 2014, his first season on the Hilltop, Cosgriff helped guide a young Mustang team to seven wins. Due to injuries to both starting goalkeepers, he was tasked with the challenge of transitioning a field player, Lissi Lonsberry, to goalkeeper. Cosgriff overcame this challenge, as Lonsberry posted a 5-3 record, including two shutouts, in the eight games she started in net. Cosgriff also saw senior goalkeeper Lauryn Bodden post a career-high 11 saves in a game versus USF.

Cosgriff was an assistant coach and goalkeeper coach at Washington State from 2012-14. During his tenure, he helped the development of one Pac-12 Player of the Year and six Pac-12 all-conference selections. In 2013, Washington State was seventh nationally in both goals allowed and goals against average and sixth in the nation in shutouts. The Cougars advanced to the NCAA Tournament in both 2012 and 2013. His athletes excelled both on and off the pitch, as 21 Cougars earned Pac-12 all-academic honors and the teams averaged a 3.23 GPA.

Cosgriff was an assistant at South Carolina from 2003-11, where he worked with goalkeepers and assisted in all aspects of the program. He mentored the careers of three of the top seven goalkeepers for goals against average in Southeastern Conference history.

For three-straight seasons (2009-11), South Carolina had the SEC’s top defensive unit and Cosgriff’s goalkeepers own the top-five goals against averages in Gamecocks’ history. South Carolina participated in the NCAA Championship each of the last-five seasons Cosgriff was on staff. The Gamecocks won the 2009 SEC Tournament title and advanced to the sweet 16, and the 2011 squad won the SEC regular season crown.

Prior to South Carolina, Cosgriff was an assistant coach for the men’s soccer team at Maine, his alma mater, from 2002-03. He graduated (2002) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology.

A native of Lebanon, N.H., Cosgriff played for the Vermont Voltage of the Premier Development League from 2000-01. He also played at Maine for four years, starting at goalkeeper and serving as team captain.

Emma Wright-Cates was named an assistant coach by Head Coach Nicole Nelson in 2022.
 
Wright-Cates spent the previous four years as the head coach at UIW. In 2021, the Cardinals finished second in the Southland Conference and made the Southland championship game for the first time. Her UIW teams garnered 16 All-Southland honors and an NSCAA All-Region selection.
 
“Emma will be an incredible addition to our staff, program and department,” said Nelson. “Her experience and level of expertise is exceptional.  She brings a unique perspective having served as both a head and assistant coach, as a director at the club level, and played at very high level.  I am confident Emma will help elevate our program in every area, most importantly the development of the women in this program. Emma’s energy and passion are infectious, and I am really looking forward to working with her.”
 
A native of Greater Manchester, England, Wright-Cates has also had coaching stints with George Washington, Christian Brothers University and Southeastern Louisiana.
 
“Dallas is an incredible city with an abundance of talent and an institution with an array of rich history,” stated Wright-Cates. “I am extremely grateful for Nicole believing in me and trusting me to work alongside her with SMU's elite players and staff.”

Wright-Cates briefly stepped away from collegiate athletics prior to the 2014 season and returned to England to help care for her terminally ill father. She returned to the United States in January of 2015 and founded Pass and Move, LLC, a consulting company that trains high school student-athletes in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and assists with the process of searching for and preparing for the right college.
 
She was an assistant coach at George Washington from 2012-14 where she worked with recruiting, fundraising, scouting, community service and travel. Under Wright-Cates’ guidance, the Colonials improved from 5-12-1 in 2012 to 12-6-1 in 2014.
 
Prior to her time at GW, Wright-Cates spent three years as club director for Fort Worth FC. Within the club, she helped coach the Forth Worth Panthers of the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL). Wright-Cates’ duties included working with developmental age groups, assisting with competitive teams, fundraising, coordinating and managing spirit wear, producing monthly newsletters and assisting with Fort Worth FC camps and club tournaments.
 
Before joining the Fort Worth FC staff, Wright-Cates served as an assistant coach at Southeastern Louisiana from 2007-09. She helped the Lions advance to the Southland Conference Tournament semifinals in both 2007 and 2008. In addition to her NCAA Division I coaching experience, Wright-Cates also coached at Division II Christian Brothers University in Memphis, Tennessee, from 2005-07.
 
Wright-Cates played at the collegiate level at both Division I Central Connecticut State and Division II Slippery Rock. Throughout her three seasons at CCSU, she helped the Blue Devils to their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament's second round. A three-year letterwinner with the Blue Devils, Wright-Cates was a first team All-Northeast Conference selection and was named the Central Connecticut Sportswriters Player of the Year after helping CCSU win two NEC titles. Wright-Cates transferred to Slippery Rock for her senior year and earned All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference after helping The Rock to the PSAC West title in 2004.
 
Before coming to the United States, Wright-Cates played in England's Women's Premier League for both the Doncaster Belles and Everton, the latter of which won the premiership title. She was also a member of the National Women’s Football Academy from 1998-2000 and competed in the England National Team U-18 trials in 1998.
 
Wright-Cates holds, her USSF Licenses, United Soccer Coaches Licenses, Tovo License, a referee license, and a Goalkeeping Diploma. 
 
Wright-Cates graduated from CCSU in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in art, specializing in graphic design. She completed her master's degree in education at Christian Brothers University in 2007. Wright-Cates is married to Vassar Cates and has three children, Phoebe, Finn and Leo.

Dimtri Kaliakin was named an assistant coach by Head Coach Nicole Nelson in 2023. Kaliakin spent the previous year serving as a Graduate Assistant Coach for Ole Miss during the Rebels’ 2023 offseason, and continues to pursue his master’s degree in Intercollegiate Athletics.

Before his time at Mississippi, Kaliakin began as an assistant men's coach at Washington College in 2017, serving in that role until the end of the 2017-18 academic year. He then returned as the program's full-time assistant coach in March 2019. In the spring of 2021, Kaliakin worked as an assistant with both the men's and women's soccer programs before taking over the role of assistant women's coach in July 2021. 

Kaliakin, a Washington College soccer standout, capped off an impressive collegiate career by earning All-Centennial Conference and All-Mid-Atlantic Region first-team honors. He led the Centennial with 12 assists as a senior and became the team’s all-time leader in career assists with 32. He also captained a team that turned in the program’s best record in 16 years, qualified for the Centennial Conference Tournament for the first time, and won a Centennial Conference Tournament game for the first time.

He scored three career goals for a total of 38 total points, was a two-time Team MVP and a four-time Shoreman of the Week. He was also named to the All-Centennial Conference second team as a sophomore and earned 2016 Delmarva Cup All-Tournament Team honors. Kaliakin was the male winner of the College’s Eldridge Eliason Award as a senior and graduated with a degree in Mathematics in May 2017. 

Kaliakin holds a United Soccer Coaches National Diploma and is registered as an certified Coerver Coach.

Claire joined the SMU Women’s Soccer staff in January 2023 as the Graduate Assistant after finishing a great playing career. Prior to SMU, Claire played 3 seasons as a professional soccer player in Italy, Germany and Finland. 

Oates played four years of college soccer at SMU in 2014-2018. She was a key member as a leader on and off the pitch. She was a 2-year captain her junior and senior year. She started all 81 games throughout her college career and scored 23 goals and 6 assists.

Claire is from Southern California. She graduated from SMU in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management and a minor in Advertising. She is now working on her Masters in Health Promotion Management.

Paula Woodbury received her Bachelor and Masters degree from Baylor University.  She began her career as a College Admission Counselor for Baylor University.  After completing her Masters, she moved to Dallas and began working for Ernst & Young in campus recruiting.  Paula served in multiple campus recruiting roles locally and nationally while at Ernst & Young including recruiting for Audit and Tax, Financial Services and Actuarial Services.  While she loved her job tremendously, she took a hiatus to raise her children.  During that time, she volunteered ferociously in various PTA, Booster Club and church roles, became a certified Cross Fit Coach and completed 2 dozen marathons, 5 Half Ironmans and 2 Ironmans.  She spends her free time reading, cooking, managing the family calendar and gleefully attending her children’s numerous musical concerts.  Paula is thrilled to bring her skills to Nelson SMU Girls Soccer Camps and is looking forward to making Nelson SMU Girls Soccer Camps the best experience for our campers!