Samantha Baggett enters her fourth season at Tennessee as an assistant coach and will be collaborating with coaches Angela Kelly and Scott Blount, as well as working with the Lady Vols' defensive corps. The Big Orange has advanced to the NCAA Women's Soccer Tournament in each of her campaigns and has claimed consecutive Eastern Division and Southeastern Conference Tournament titles. Her efforts have caused a significant decrease in the number of goals allowed and scoring opportunities permitted by the club.

Last fall, Baggett oversaw a defensive contingent which registered a school-record 12 shutouts and surrendered a program-low 18 goals in 24 matches. She has helped to oversee the development of All-American Keeley Dowling, who earned the SEC's inaugural Defensive Player of the Year award and was a semifinalist for the Missouri Athletic Club's Hermann Trophy, presented to the nation's top Division I player.

During UT's run to its first-ever Southeastern Conference Tournament crown in 2002, the defense allowed just one goal in three matches, covering 294 minutes. The corps limited its three opponents (Georgia, Kentucky and Florida) to a total of 14 shots, including five in the title tilt, which was extended to a pair of overtimes. Over the course of the season, spanning 25 contests on the pitch, Tennessee held a commanding 458-204 shot advantage and out-shot its opponents by an average of more than 10 attempts per match. Baggett's assistance was also vital in Dowling being tabbed as the initial Lady Vol women's soccer All-American.

She arrived in Knoxville after serving as an intern at the NCAA office in Indianapolis, Ind., where she assisted with the operations of the 2001 Division I men's and women's basketball championships. Baggett helped with game management at the Women's Final Four in St. Louis, Mo., and also handled ticket and hotel requests for the event. In addition, she designed the credential procedure for the 2000 Women's Soccer College Cup and coordinated the Division I Women's Volleyball Championship bids for the preliminary rounds.

Baggett was affiliated with the U.S. Women's Soccer National Team Program from February 1998 to January 2000 as a member of the Under-21 National Team and was a floating member of the 1999 World Cup residency program. Over her career, she has earned two caps (international appearances with the full team), tallying a goal against Finland and being credited with an assist versus Ukraine. In addition, she participated in the W-League for the Raleigh Wings, capturing a national championship in '99.

Baggett was a four-year starter at Duke University from 1994 through 1997, playing both forward and defender for the Blue Devils. She was tabbed as a Freshman All-American by Soccer America and Soccer News in '94 and was a three-time Atlantic Coast Conference selection and a three-time National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Southeast Region choice. Baggett earned a spot on the ACC's All-Tournament team on three occasions and was voted as her club's Offensive Most Valuable Player in '97, when she was also selected to Soccer Times' Honorable Mention All-America list.

As a senior, she recorded 28 points on 13 goals and a pair of assists to lead Duke in scoring. Baggett's goal total that year ranks fifth on the school's single-season list, while her point tally rates sixth. Over her four-year career, she registered 38 points on 16 goals and six helpers and contributed to the Blue Devils reaching NCAAs four straight times.

In her rookie season of 1994, Duke equaled its school record for wins in a season with 17, including an upset victory over national champion North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., as the squad cruised to the program's first ACC regular-season title and a No. 4 final national ranking. Ironically, that was the lone defeat Lady Vol Head Coach Angela Kelly suffered in her Tar Heel career.

She later served as a volunteer assistant coach for Bill Hempen during the 1998 and '99 campaigns, as the Blue Devils advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 1999.

A member of the ACC Academic Honor Roll, the Daytona Beach, Fla., native earned her bachelor's degree with a double major in English and sociology in 1998 from Duke. She earned her master's degree in sport administration from the University of North Carolina in 2001 and is now pursuing her doctorate in cultural studies in education at UT.

Five things you look for in a recruit: Agreeable personality, work ethic, tough mentality, playing trademark, character

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? A dessert or culinary chef

What sounds or noises do you love? Running water in a creek or rain

What sounds or noises do you hate? Certain swear words

Least favorite word: Certain swear words

Favorite words: Innocuous or Grace

What is something about yourself everyone might not know? I was in a sorority - Alpha Delta Pi

Who would you chose to sing a song about your life? Yolanda Adams- She can saaaaaang!

What would the song be titled? "I'm Right on Top of That Rose"

One word to describe yourself: Faithful

Picked for Survivor, what three items would you bring? Bible, MP3 player, cell phone

Hobbies: Cooking/baking, reading, guitar, yoga

CDs in your stereo? Casting Crowns, Best of Barry White and Indigo Girls

At which store would you most likely max out your credit card? Definitely Banana Republic

What are your hopes for this season? We stay healthy, create lasting memories and are still playing in December.

What is the best part about coaching? That's a no-brainer...the relationships we build with the players. I think one would be hard-pressed to find a better group of individuals. I feel extremely blessed to spend each day with them.