Tiffeny Milbrett, a University of Portland women’s soccer alum and UP Athletics Hall of Fame member, is joining the program as a volunteer assistant coach in January of 2021. Milbrett, who was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2018, collected numerous honors and set several national records as a player in the early 1990’s.
“I can’t contain my excitement about being a part of the Portland women’s soccer program and returning to a place that I love,” Milbrett said. “The program helped shape me and define me, and it was crucial in helping me on my journey as a player. I hold it so dearly in my heart and soul, and to come back and add value and help the program, players, and staff, is an extremely exciting prospect.”
“Tiff was one of the first top-level players to take a chance on an unknown, yet up and coming, soccer program here at the University of Portland,” said French. “She truly believed in all that Clive Charles, and UP as a whole, could offer to help her develop as a player, and as a person. She is one of the main reasons why UP women’s soccer is known across the soccer landscape today. Whether collegiately, or on the international stage, Tiff’s accolades and accomplishments as a player speak for themselves.”
Milbrett, who originally hails from Portland, starred on the pitch for the Pilots from 1990-95, helping the team reach the program’s first ever College Cup in 1994. A year later Milbrett and the Pilots played in the NCAA Championship game. In 1990, she was named Soccer America's Freshman Soccer Player of the Year, and she garnered WCC Offensive Player of the Year honors in 1992 and 1994. Milbrett was also a three-time NSCAA All-American and was a three-time finalist for the Hermann Trophy and Missouri Athletic Club Award. Soccer America named her to the College Team of the Decade for the 1990’s.
When she left UP, Milbrett was the program’s all-time leader in goals (103) and assists (40), and she still ranks second in goals, behind only Christine Sinclair. Her career marks of 3.32 points per game and 1.39 goals per game are still the best ever in UP history, and she is still third all-time in NCAA history in total goals.
Following her collegiate career, Milbrett had a heralded international career that saw her win both Olympic and World Cup Championships. In 1995, she was a member of the team that finished third at the World Cup in Sweden, and in 1996, she was a starter for the team that won the 1996 Olympic gold in Atlanta, scoring the game-winning goal against China in the final. In 1999, Milbrett helped the Americans win their second World Cup, and she was on the U.S. team that finished third at the 2003 World Cup. She helped the Americans take home the silver medal from the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, and she finished her 15-year international career with 206 caps.
In 2001, Milbrett became a founding member of the New York Power in the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) where she was the league's MVP as well as Offensive Player of the Year. In 2009, Milbrett was selected to play with FC Gold Pride of the new Women's Professional Soccer, and she also played professionally in Japan, Sweden, and Canada.
Milbrett has been involved in coaching since 2009, beginning at MVLA in Los Altos, Calif., from 2009-15. From there, she moved on to the Colorado Storm in Denver, Colo., where she spent three years before the club combined with the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club. During those four years in Denver, Milbrett was the head coach of two ECNL teams (U13-U17) and was the age groups U13-U19 director of coaching in the south region. An 18-month stint as director of coach and player development followed at Tampa Bay United in Florida, where she also was the head coach of two ECNL teams (U13 and U14). Additionally, Milbrett spent time with ODP as head coach of the 2003 Girls and 2004 Girls West Regional teams, and she was the assistant coach of the 2000 Girls West Regional team. In January of 2020 she was an assistant coach with the U-16 U.S. Youth National Team.
“The dedication, desire, creativity, and pure joy she displayed as a player has transferred directly into her coaching style,” French said. “For the past 10 years, Tiff has been developing players at the club level by challenging them to both realize, and tap into, their potential to grow and evolve as players, all the while encouraging the players to remain true to themselves.”
“The biggest thing for me is staying a part of the game, and to have the opportunity to work alongside Frenchie in this capacity is a really great opportunity,” said Milbrett, who was also a volunteer assistant with the Pilots during their 2005 NCAA Title run. “I’ve obviously known her for several years from UP and playing with her on the national team, and she is someone with so much experience who I can learn from. To be able to join her and to have the staff accept me into the group is tremendous, and I want to thank them for the opportunity.”
“As a program, we are thrilled to welcome Tiff back,” French added. “Whether through on the field instruction, or off the field guidance, we cannot wait for her to share incredible moments and memories of her time here as a Pilot. I have no doubt that her presence back on The Bluff will not only be felt across UP’s campus, but across the entire Portland soccer community.”