Sacramento State announced on March 3 the hiring of Tim Strader as the fifth women’s soccer head coach in program history. Strader takes over a program that has not posted a winning season since 2019, and knows the task ahead.

“We know we’ve got our work cut out for us,” Strader said. “But I don’t run from hard things, I want the challenge.”

Strader arrives in Sacramento after serving as an assistant coach at Texas A&M for the 2025 season. Prior to that, Strader was no stranger to California living, serving as an assistant coach at Cal Baptist from 2018-24. He was also elevated to the role of associate head coach for his final two years there in 2023 and 2024. 

While at Cal Baptist, the Lancers registered a 70-36-22 (.633) record while also winning the 2024 Western Athletic Conference Tournament title and clinching their first ever NCAA Tournament berth. Cal Baptist, like Sac State, will be one of three additions to the Big West Conference for the 2026 season.

Athletic Director Mark Orr said Strader stood out during the search process for his leadership and plan for the program, according to a statement from Hornet Sports. 

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“Throughout the national search process, Tim [Strader] demonstrated a commitment to building a strong team culture,” Orr said. “[He has] a clear vision to building competitive success on the field, in the classroom and within the Sacramento community.”

Strader also referenced the school’s leadership when explaining what attracted him to Sac State.

“First, the leadership of the university — Dr. [Luke] Wood’s vision for not only athletics but the university as a whole and Mark Orr gives us the support that we need to go compete,” Strader said. 

He also emphasized the city, university and conference as part of what made this opportunity appealing.

“This is a destination school. You are in Sacramento, California, we’re going to be better than this,” Strader said. “Additionally, I look at the Big West, which is by far one of the best mid-major conferences in the country, parity-wise, and I love a challenge.” 

Sac State men’s soccer head coach Michael Linenberger, who played a role in the coaching search process, said Strader’s familiarity with the region and conference made him a strong fit.

“He’s familiar with the Big West Conference and California,” Linenberger said. “He also has experience at the highest level of NCAA Division I women’s soccer.”

Linenberger added that Strader’s clear plan for the program reinforced why he was selected for the job.

“He’s organized and has a clear plan to build his program, both in the immediate next few months as well as long term in the next few years,” Linenberger said.

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Strader said that the early stages of that process begin now.

“Right now, we’ve got about 13-14 players on the roster,” Strader said. “So, the main thing is to hit the ground running. Recruit, recruit, recruit.”

With recruiting at the forefront of his mind, Strader said he knows the type of players he wants to target as he shapes the roster.

“We’re going to be very purposeful about bringing in competitors,” Strader said. “We want to roll our sleeves and get to work.”

The grind mentality is something the new head coach mentioned a few times but Strader also said he wants the Hornets to combine competitiveness with a possession-oriented style.

“We want to grind, but we also want the ball,” Strader said. “We want to be organized defensively, quick in our counter presses and quick in our transitions.”

Strader added that creativity and confidence on the ball will be important traits for players in his system.

“We love players that are 1-on-1 artists, players that have that mentality that says, ‘I can beat anybody on any given day,’” Strader said.

With the foundation in place and Strader at the helm, Sac State enters a new era of women’s soccer.

“It’s not about who we are right now, it’s about what we’re going to become,” Strader said.