Sam Sharpless

Bio

Sam Sharpless was named Head Coach of the Penn State Beaver women’s soccer program, bringing a strong combination of local roots, collegiate experience, and a passion for student-athlete development. A Beaver County native, Sharpless returns to his alma mater with a clear vision of building a competitive program while fostering success both on the field and in the classroom.

Originally from Conway, Pennsylvania, Sharpless is a graduate of Freedom High School and has spent his life deeply connected to the Beaver County community. He continued his academic and athletic career at Penn State Beaver, earning a bachelor’s degree in marketing and management. He later went on to complete a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from Louisiana State University.

Sharpless brings a well-rounded coaching background to the position. He has served as the head coach of the Ellwood City High School boys/co-ed soccer team since 2024. Prior to that role, he spent two seasons as the goalkeeper coach for North Catholic High School’s girls’ soccer program (2022–2024) and four years as the goalkeeper coach for the Penn State Beaver men’s soccer team (2019–2022). His previous experience on campus provides valuable familiarity and continuity within the program.

As a player, Sharpless competed for four years at Freedom High School before continuing his career at Penn State Beaver, where he was a four-year member of the men’s soccer team. He also played three years at the semi-professional level in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) with Pittsburgh City United.

In addition to his coaching responsibilities, Sharpless works at the Community College of Beaver County (CCBC) as an Office and Compliance Manager in the PCC Office in Human Resources. He previously served as an Enrollment Team Lead at CCBC through 2024, further demonstrating his commitment to student success and development.

Sharpless is dedicated to creating opportunities for student-athletes to thrive academically and athletically while building a program capable of competing for championships.

He and his wife, MacKenzie, welcomed their son, Harrison, in December. The family also includes their two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Cheerio and Betty Boop.