Competitive. Passionate. A winner.
These are some of the words the Auburn women's soccer team uses to describe assistant coach Amy Berbary.
Originally from Alpharetta, Ga., Berbary began playing soccer at age 7.
"My dad was a goalkeeper in college, so when I was little, we used to play in the backyard," Berbary said.
Berbary learned her love and appreciation for coaching as a junior in high school when she was forced to sit on the sideline for a whole season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
"I think that's what really got me to see the game in a different way," Berbary said. "By sitting on the sideline, I began to think that coaching may be a career path I'd like to take."
Later, Berbary played soccer at the University of Georgia, where she was the lead scorer for three straight seasons.
She graduated with a degree in health promotion and wellness education in 2002.
After leaving UGA, Berbary officially began her coaching career at Gainesville High School in Gainesville, Ga., where she led her team to a 19-0 record during a span of two seasons.
In 2004, Berbary went to coach at the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio, where she remained until 2008.
After networking within the coaching realm of collegiate soccer, Berbary met Karen Hoppa, Auburn's current head coach.
Berbary joined Auburn's coaching staff in February 2008.
She said she is particularly interested in the coming season's potential.
"I'm most excited about the start we have already had, Berbary said. "We're 6-2. We're a fairly young team, but we have great leadership from our juniors and seniors this year."
The Tigers are taking it one step at a time as the pace of the season picks up.
The "second part of the season," as Berbary refers to the start of SEC play, is getting underway.
"I'm looking forward to the rest of the season," said Tony Montanaro, junior in civil engineering. "It's going to be fun to watch. They are looking good, especially in those orange uniforms."
Although Berbary is serious when it comes to soccer, Julie King, junior defender who joined the program the same year as Berbary, said the assistant coach has a silly side.
"Amy is just a funny person: she likes to have fun and goof around," King said. "When it comes to soccer, she gets serious, but we can even get some laughs out of her at practice."
Berbary is particularly fond of comparing the team to cartoon characters.
For example, she said she believes King moves like the Claymation character Gumby.
"We have this superstition before the game," King said. "I have a Gumby figurine that I put in my cubby, and we both have to, at some point before the game, go over to it and touch it."
Regardless of what makes her special to the team, Berbary's players find her irreplaceable.
"She really has a quality personality that makes you want to win," King said. "I've personally felt very fortunate to have her as my coach."
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