SAN FRANCISCO – Fiona O'Sullivan, a member of the Republic of Ireland's national team who enjoyed a long professional career with various clubs around the world following her graduation from USF in 2008, has been named assistant coach for USF's women's soccer team, head coach Jim Millinder announced today.
 
"Fiona will be an outstanding addition to our coaching staff," said Millinder. "Whenever you can bring back one of the most accomplished players in the history of USF women's soccer it's pretty special. I've been in close contact with her over the years and always thought it might be a nice fit to bring her back home when her professional playing career was over.
 
"I think our players will be able to relate to Fiona on many different levels. She is a former USF student-athlete and played professionally and internationally at a very high level."
 
O'Sullivan returns to the Hilltop where she was a four-year standout for the Dons from 2004-07. She scored eight career goals in four seasons, including a team-high five goals during the 2006 campaign, despite missing half the season with a knee injury. Three of her five goals that season came in one game against San Jose State on Sept. 3.
 
After receiving her degree in international politics, O'Sullivan embarked on a professional playing career that began with the California Storm (2009-10) of the Women's Premier Soccer League. She also had stints with the Sonoma County Sol and Chicago Red Storm before venturing to Europe where she gained international playing experience with Swedish club teams AIK FotbollDam (2010), Pitea Idrottsforening (2011), Kvarnsvedens IK (2011), French club ASJ Soyaux (2011-12), SC Freiburg of the German Budesliga (2012-14) and most recently with Notts County (England) Ladies Football Club.
 
An Irish citizen by virtue of her father Aidan, O'Sullivan made 28 appearances with the Republic of Ireland's national team from 2009-15, scoring a total of 13 goals. In February of 2011, she was named the Football Association of Ireland's (FAI) International Player of the Year.
 
"I am very excited to be back at USF," said O'Sullivan. "USF has been the springboard to my adult life and I can't think of a better place to continue my growth. I understand the goals of the program and am looking to a great season and rejoining life on the Hilltop."
 
A native of San Geronimo, Calif., O'Sullivan, 28, attended Sir Francis Drake High School, where she has run Fiona's Soccer Camp for the past 12 years.