The University of North Florida women's soccer program has turned to a legendary figure to help guide its continuing Division I climb.

Former collegiate All-American and U.S. Women's National Soccer Team member Linda Hamilton was hired as the Lady Ospreys' fourth head coach in its 10-year history in February 2007.

Hamilton spent fall 2006 as an assistant women's soccer coach at Hofstra University in New York and previously served as head coach at Old Dominion University in Virginia from 1993-95. She was also head coach and director of player development for the Richmond (Va.) Strikers Soccer Club from 1997-2006.

Hamilton knows a little something about success, having played at the highest levels of competitive soccer - both in college and internationally.

Hamilton's impressive playing career includes an eight-year stint on the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team from 1987-95 as a defender and marking back, when she appeared in 82 international games. She was a starter for two World Cup teams that earned medals - the 1991 gold-medal squad and the 1995 bronze-medal team.

While playing for the U.S. National team, Hamilton capped her collegiate career in 1990 as a member of the University of North Carolina squad that won the fifth of nine consecutive NCAA titles. She spent the first three years of her college career at N.C. State before transferring to play for the Tar Heels. Hamilton was a four-time All-American, four-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection and was runner-up for the national player of the year in each of her final three collegiate seasons.

She was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year in 1988 while playing for N.C. State.

After graduating from UNC in 1992 with a bachelor's degree in communications, and following the conclusion of her playing days with the U.S. National Team, Hamilton worked as the director of development for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society from 2002-05 and then in the same capacity for Easter Seals of Virginia from 2005-06.

She felt an urge to get back into the college game at that point, she said, which took her to Hofstra last fall and has ultimately brought her to UNF.

"The truth is that I am incredibly impressed with the academics at UNF," Hamilton said. "It is easy to recruit to a school where the academic programs are strong. The facilities are also outstanding, and Florida has an incredible talent pool of players. After visiting with the administration and hearing the University's plans, all of that combined made this a wonderful opportunity. I'll have an opportunity to grow personally, and I'll have a chance to help this program grow and see where I can take it. I can't imagine a better situation."

She becomes the fourth UNF women's soccer coach in the program's 10-year history and the first coach to lead the Ospreys into their first year as a full Division I member.