Feb. 1, 2007

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Head Coach Bryan Blitz announced today that Allison Cowan has been hired as the program's Director of Soccer Operations. In her new role with the Tigers, Cowan will handle travel preparation, budget administration, game day operations and serve as the alumni and Missouri Soccer Fan Club liaison.

Cowan comes to the Tigers from George Mason, where she served as an assistant coach since January 2006. With the Patriots, she assisted with game day activities and decisions, helped organized and supervise practice sessions, scouted opponents and aided in recruiting and arranging team travel.

In addition to her collegiate coaching experience, Cowan was an assistant coach for the Freedom Soccer Club U-15, Burke Athletic Club U-16 and Fairfax Police Youth Club U-10 girls' teams.

For the past two years, Cowan also worked as a paralegal at Keating & Bennett, LLP, a patent law firm, in McLean, Va.

Cowan played central defender and midfielder for George Mason from 2001-04 and earned Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) second team and all-tournament team and SoccerBuzz All-Mid-Atlantic Region third team honors as a senior in 2004. Additionally, she plays for the United Soccer League W-League Washington Freedom, which was ranked the 10th best club team in the world in 2005.

A native of Minnetonka, Minn., Cowan earned a bachelor's degree in English from George Mason in 2005.