When Liberty University announced Tori Collar’s appointment as assistant coach for the women’s soccer program in January 2024, the move was more than a personnel change; it was a strategic infusion of playing experience and developmental insight. Collar, a former Liberty goalkeeper, returned to the campus where she had earned both a bachelor’s degree in sport management (2016) and an MBA (2018), bringing a blend of academic rigor and on‑field acumen to the staff.
A Season of Milestones
In her first year at the helm, Collar helped guide the team to a 15‑2‑4 record, a finish as runners‑up in the Conference USA Championship title game and the program’s first-ever national ranking, landing at No. 24. The campaign featured a historic victory over a ranked opponent, underscoring the immediate impact of her leadership on the field.
Goalkeeper Grace Workman emerged as a standout, earning a spot on the CUSA All‑Conference second team after posting an 11‑2‑2 record with a 0.43 goals‑against average. Alongside Peyton Huber, Workman contributed to 11 shutouts and a combined 0.62 GAA, allowing just 13 goals throughout the season.
A Coaching Journey
Collar’s coaching pedigree stretches beyond Liberty. She previously served two seasons as an assistant at High Point University, where the Panthers posted a 5‑10‑3 record in her first year and improved to 6‑5‑7 in 2023, with goalkeepers posting a 1.17 GAA and a .781 save percentage. Before that, she directed goalkeeping operations for the Charlotte Eagles Soccer Club and led the Charlotte Lady Eagles WPSL team to a regional final in 2019 and a conference championship in 2021.
Her playing career included 13 appearances as a goalkeeper for Liberty, during which she made 27 saves. That experience, coupled with her work at the Charlotte Eagles and her role training goalkeepers from programs such as Mississippi State, Louisville, Illinois, Cincinnati and Charlotte, equipped her with a deep reservoir of technical knowledge that she now shares with Liberty’s emerging talent.
Looking Forward
As the program moves into the next chapter, Collar’s blend of playing discipline, strategic insight and proven goalkeeper development is poised to elevate Liberty’s women’s soccer team even further. The early successes hint at a sustained upward trajectory, and the coaching staff, players and fans alike are eager to see how her vision will continue to shape the program’s identity and competitiveness on a national stage.