Built in Beaver County: Sharpless Takes the Reins at Penn State Beaver

Monaca, PA — Penn State Beaver Athletics is proud to announce the hiring of Sam Sharpless as the new Head Coach of the women’s soccer program. A Beaver County native and Penn State Beaver alumnus, Sharpless brings a strong blend of local ties, collegiate experience, and a passion for student-athlete development to the role.

Sharpless, originally from Conway, Pennsylvania, is a graduate of Freedom High School and has deep roots in the Beaver County community. He continued his academic and athletic career at Penn State Beaver, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing and management. He later completed a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from Louisiana State University.

“I’m excited to come in and rebuild a program that has the capacity to compete for championships under the right circumstances,” said Sharpless. “Being an alumnus myself, there is a lot of passion and pride that I have for Penn State Beaver athletics, and I want to see this team thrive on and off the pitch.”

Sharpless brings a diverse coaching background to the position. He currently serves as the head coach of the Ellwood City High School boys/co-ed soccer team, a role he has held since 2024. Prior to that, he spent two seasons as the goalkeeper coach for North Catholic High School’s girls’ program (2022–2024) and four years as the goalkeeper coach for the Penn State Beaver men’s soccer team (2019–2022). His familiarity with the campus and athletic department provides a seamless transition into his new leadership role.

As a player, Sharpless competed for four years at Freedom High School before continuing his career at Penn State Beaver, where he was a four-year member of the men’s soccer program. He also gained valuable experience at the semi-professional level, playing three years in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) with Pittsburgh City United.

In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Sharpless currently works at the Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) as an Office and Compliance Manager in the PCC Office in Human Resources. He previously served as an Enrollment Team Lead at CCBC through 2024, further demonstrating his commitment to student success both inside and outside of athletics.

“I want to give young players the opportunity to thrive in both school and sport,” Sharpless added. “I truly believe Penn State Beaver can offer a lot to potential student-athletes, and I’m excited to help build something special here.”

Penn State Beaver Director of Athletics Andy Kirschner expressed strong enthusiasm for the program’s new leadership.

“We are thrilled to welcome Sam back to Penn State Beaver as our head women’s soccer coach,” said Kirschner. “His connection to this campus, combined with his coaching experience and passion for student-athlete development, makes him a tremendous fit. We’re excited about the direction of the program under his leadership and look forward to what the future holds.”

Sharpless and his wife, MacKenzie, recently welcomed their son, Harrison, in December. The family also includes their two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Cheerio and Betty Boop.

With a strong foundation of local pride, coaching experience, and a vision for growth, Sharpless is poised to lead Penn State Beaver women’s soccer into an exciting new era.

Please join us in welcoming Coach Sam Sharpless to Penn State Beaver Athletics once again.
For more information or interest in joining the team, contact Coach Sharpless at sms7095@psu.edu or Athletic Director Andy Kirschner at ack121@psu.edu.