HAYWARD, Calif. -- Cal State East Bay Director of Athletics Jason Carmichael announced Thursday the hiring of Robin Hart as the eighth head coach of the CSUEB women's soccer program. Hart joins the Pioneers after spending the 2017-18 season as the head coach at Menlo College in Atherton, Calif.

"I am thrilled to welcome Robin as our new women's soccer head," Carmichael said. "She comes highly recommended by several administrators within the CCAA. More importantly, I was encouraged by her clarity of vision in describing how she wants to move the program forward. I am very excited to add her to our Pioneer team."

In her first season at Menlo in 2017, Hart guided the Oaks to an 11-5-3 overall record, the program's best since 2014, while out-scoring opponents 34-17 for the season. Menlo received votes on the NAIA top-25 poll for the first time in program history, with three of Hart's players selected to the All-Golden State Athletic Conference Team and one named an NAIA All-American. She had five student-athletes earn a spot on the GSAC Scholar Team as the squad posted a 3.31 collective grade point average. 

"I am thrilled to join CSUEB and the women's soccer family," Hart said. "I would like to thank Jason Carmichael and Ken Parsons for this tremendous opportunity to lead this program. I cannot wait to hit the ground running with the team and be a positive addition to the department and the campus community."

A veteran of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), Hart spent two seasons as the top assistant coach at Sonoma State prior to taking the head position at Menlo. During her tenure in Rohnert Park, the Seawolves posted a 26-6-6 record, captured the 2015 CCAA regular season championship, and made back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances. 

Hart handled a multitude of duties at SSU, including recruiting, practice planning, video analysis, camps, fundraising, academic support, and the team's strength and conditioning program. While coaching at Sonoma, she also served as head coach of the Santa Rosa United Soccer Club and assistant coach for the Region IV Olympic Development Program. 

Prior to that, Hart spent three seasons as an assistant coach at her alma mater, San Francisco State. She also worked with youth players during that time, serving for six season as head coach of East Bay United Soccer Club in Oakland, Calif.

In addition to her extensive coaching experience in the CCAA, Hart also enjoyed a standout collegiate career as a student-athlete. She spent her last two seasons with SF State after transferring from Cal State Bakersfield and captured All-CCAA honors both years. As a senior in 2008, Hart led the team in goals and points, captaining the Gators to an appearance in the CCAA championship game and a berth in the NCAA tournament. That season, she was a First Team All-West Region and CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree, SF State's Most Outstanding Student-Athlete, and a recipient of the CCAA's prestigious Dr. Hal Charnovsky award.

Hart earned her bachelor's degree in criminal justice from SF State in 2009 and her master's degree in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia-Irvine in 2017. The San Francisco native holds a United Soccer Coaches Premier License and a United State Soccer Federation National C License. 

Hart takes the reigns from CSUEB alumnae Amy Gerace, who retired in January after 17 years and 111 victories as head coach of the Pioneers. Cal State East Bay posted a 4-12-2 record in 2017.