Ashley Gordon
Head Coach
East Texas A&M University announced the hiring of Ashley Gordon as head coach of the Lions’ soccer program in January 2022.
Gordon is entering her fourth season as the Lion soccer skipper in 2025, being the program's coach for its entire time in NCAA Division I and the Southland Conference.
During her first three seasons in Commerce, the Lions are the only program in the Southland Conference to finish in the top three of the standings in each of the three seasons, while making two SLC Tournament Championship matches, and recording the athletic department's only winning season in the Division I era. Individually, she has mentored one SLC Player of the Year, two SLC Forward of the Year honorees, one SLC Newcomer of the Year, and two SLC Freshman of the Year award winners, as well as six first team all-conference honorees, nine second-team all-conference selections, and seven players have been named to the all-tournament teams in the Lions' three trips to the postseason.
In her third season at the helm of the Lion soccer program in 2024, Gordon guided the Lions to another monumental season as East Texas A&M made its second appearance in the Southland Conference Tournament Championship match after finishing third in the conference during the regular season. Individual accolades for the Lions included sophomore Kaydence Ramirez being named Southland Conference Player of the Year and the Forward of the Year. Along with Ramirez being named to first team all-conference, Hannah Bell, Melissa Storey, and Mindy Shoffit were named to second team all-conference.
Gordon led the program to new heights in 2023, guiding the Lions to their first winning season in the Division I era, which was also the first winning season for any sport in Division I. The Lions finished second in the conference, while picking up marquee non-conference wins over Tulsa and UTEP. The Lions finished the season second in the conference in scoring average, while collecting six all-conference honors. Kaydence Ramirez was named the conference's Newcomer of the Year, while Hannah Bell earned Freshman of the Year honors, marking the third straight season that the program bagged a Freshman of the Year honor. Ramirez and Bell as well as Camila Montero and Nya Mitchell were named to first team all-conference, while Mindy Shoffit and Melissa Storey were named to the second team.
In her first season in Commerce, Gordon guided the Lions through their first season in NCAA Division I. Picked seventh in the preseason poll, the Lions finished third in the regular season and upset No. 2 seed and host Northwestern State in the SLC Tournament Semifinals to advance to the SLC Tournament Championship Match. Gordon mentored Southland Freshman of the Year Mya Mitchell as well as first team all-conference midfielder Ashley Campuzano. Mya Mitchell and her twin sister, Nya, along with Karalie Morrison and Mindy Shoffit earned all-conference honors.
Gordon, who brings over 30 years of coaching and playing experience, became the third coach in the 26-year history of the Lion Soccer program as they transition into NCAA Division I as members of the Southland Conference.
Gordon comes to Commerce from FC Dallas, where she has been the Junior Academy Director and staff coach for the FC Dallas Girls Academy in the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL). She has coached numerous players who went on to play for Division I teams, including several Power Five schools in and around the Lone Star State.
Prior to her stop at FC Dallas, Gordon coached for 11 years in the collegiate ranks, including nine years at the Division I level and winning a NJCAA National Championship.
Her most recent collegiate coaching stop came at Mississippi State, where she was assistant coach for the 2013-16 seasons, helping the Bulldogs achieve their most successful season in a decade in 2015. She recruited the program’s first draft pick into a professional women’s soccer league and the program’s first player to be invited to a US National Team Training Camp.
Gordon began her career as a Division I coach at Texas Tech for the 2007-12 seasons. The Red Raiders became a contender for the Big XII championship and Gordon was part of the program’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2012. The Red Raiders were ranked No. 25 to end the 2012 season, which was the program’s first national ranking.
With Gordon on the staff, the Red Raiders won more overall and conference games during her six seasons in Lubbock, than the previous nine year span. She coached six all-region selections and the program’s first All-American, working primarily with forwards and midfielders.
Gordon reached the pinnacle of the sport in her first collegiate head coaching job at Richland College in Dallas. The Thunderducks won the 2006 NJCAA National Championship. She was named NJCAA Coach of the Tournament and National Soccer Coaches Association of America - now United Soccer Coaches - Coach of the Year for Division III Junior Colleges.
A native of Duncanville, Gordon began her coaching career at her alma mater, Duncanville High School. Throughout her career, Gordon also been an active coach in the Olympic Development Program circuit, serving as a Region III staff coach from 2003-14.
After winning the 1990 UIL State Championship as a student-athlete at Duncanville and being named to the all-state and all-UIL tournament teams by the Dallas Morning News, Gordon went on to be a four-year starter at SMU. She was part of three NCAA Tournament appearances for the Mustangs.
Gordon played professionally for the Dallas Lightning and Texas Heat of the US Intercontinental Women’s Soccer League. The Lightning won the USASA National Cup in 1996 and 1997. Gordon also played for the US as part of the national pool team, Olympic Festival team, and Olympic regional team.
Gordon holds a USSF ‘A’ coaching license and received her Bachelors of Arts degree in psychology from SMU in 1994.
She is married to Aaron Gordon, who has served as head coach at FC Dallas Girls Academy and Mississippi State. The Gordons have two daughters, Addison and Avery.