Cori Alexander Position: Volunteer Assistant Coach Experience: 1st year at Cal

Cori Alexander joined the Golden Bears in April 2011 as volunteer assistant coach. Alexander boasts more than 20 years of experience as a goalkeeper and has been a keeper coach for the past 10 years.

"We are very pleased to add Cori to our staff as she is an outstanding coach and will be a tremendous role model for our goalkeepers and student-athletes," Cal head coach Neil McGuire said. "She has proven herself at the collegiate, professional and at various national team levels, and we are excited to see the impact she has."

She comes to Berkeley by way of San Diego, where she served as a coach last season with the Toreros. Prior to that, she played professionally in the WPS for Sky Blue FC. She was the seventh overall draft pick in 2008 and was part of the inaugural WPS Championship in 2009.

With experience playing for the U.S. national under-21 and under-23 teams as well as attending camp with the full senior squad, Alexander will fit in well with the Cal program, which has produced countless national team players.

Alexander lettered at Portland from 2003-06, garnering All-America status, All-Academic honors as well as placement on the West Coast Conference first team. She led the Pilots to an NCAA National Championship in 2005, when she earned NCAA Tournament Defensive MVP distinction. UP's career leader in saves and shutouts, Alexander was the team MVP her senior season.

She returned to her native land last year as she hails from nearby Martinez, Calif. Alexander coached the Walnut Creek Soccer Club. From 2009-10, she also served as an assistant coach at College Park High School in Pleasant Hill, Calif. Her camp coaching experience will also come in handy for she worked summer camps at Oregon (2010) and Portland (2004-10). While living in Portland, Alexander coached FC Portland from 2003-09, serving as director of goalkeeping from 2008-09.

Most recently, Alexander volunteered her time to be a part of the Indonesia America Soccer Exchange, coaching more than 300 Indonesian girls and disabled youth as an ambassador to the United States. The federally funded trip aided in improving relations between the two countries as well as removing stereotypes, judgments and barriers through the game of soccer. Alexander, along with her fellow volunteers, helped build community, and brought together various faiths and economic levels all the while empowering youth and women through sport and educating local coaches.