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Amy Dill Hire Graphic

Dill Joins CSUMB Women’s Soccer Bench

Palma head coach is now an Otter

August 20, 2026

By: Kevin Gilmore (@OtterKevin)
SEASIDE, Calif. — Cal State Monterey Bay women's soccer Head Coach Laura VanWart put the finishing touches on her coaching staff by adding Amy Dill to the Otter sideline for the 2026 season. Dill most recently has served as the head coach of the girl's team at Palma High School for the past two seasons.

Dill has always believed in the power of relationships. After more than 20 years of coaching and 15 years in education, she joined the Cal State Monterey Bay women's soccer staff with a clear purpose: to help young people discover what they're capable of—on the field and beyond.

"I'm very much a relationship person, so the chance to build relationships with the players and staff and be part of the CSUMB community really appealed to me," Dill says.

Joining CSUMB felt like a natural next step. Having long respected the program within the local soccer community, and when the opportunity arose to work with VanWart, she knew it was the right move.

"After more than 20 years of coaching and 15 years in education, I feel ready to challenge myself at the collegiate level and bring my experiences to a new environment. I also love the idea of showing my own children and the students I've worked with in the Salinas Valley that big dreams really can become a reality."

Dill's path to coaching began early. The game she loved as a player quickly became the foundation for her life's work.

"Coaching really grew out of my own experience as a player and my love for the game," she believes. "I was given coaching opportunities at a young age, and it was something that really sparked joy for me, so I started coaching while I was still in college."

That joy for teaching extended beyond the pitch. As a college student, she helped run a soccer tournament for students with special needs—a formative experience that led her toward a career in special education. Whether in the classroom or on the field, her focus remains the same: helping young people grow.

"After more than 20 years of working with young people, I've realized that developing players and helping them grow as people is what I enjoy most".

Over the years, her experiences as both a player and coach have taken her across levels and borders, shaping her into the educator she is today.

"My playing and coaching experiences have given me the opportunity to see the game from a lot of different perspectives. Playing at the collegiate level taught me what it takes to compete at a high level, while coaching different ages and levels has taught me how to communicate with all kinds of players."

Her background in education reinforced the idea that learning is not one-size-fits-all.

"My experiences as a teacher have also taught me that there isn't just one way to teach or learn, and that you can always learn something from another coach or player," she says. "I think that combination has made me adaptable, open to learning, and comfortable bringing my own experience to the table while continuing to grow."

Those experience have helped her build the structured, relationship-based, team-oriented foundation that characterizes her coaching style.

"I'm big on routines, consistency, and creating an environment where players know what's expected and can take ownership of their roles," she says. "At the end of the day, I want players to understand that they are part of something bigger than themselves, and that the success of the collective matters more than any one person."

She believes that approach reaches beyond the soccer field and into every day life. Her goal is to develop well-rounded individuals, not just athletes.

"I want to develop the whole person—helping players become better soccer players, teammates, confident leaders, and just overall good people."

In her first year with the Otters, Dill is focused on learning, contributing, and building something meaningful. She wants to be a valuable part of the CSUMB staff and contribute however she can to the success of the program. She's eager to work under VanWart to help foster a positive, competitive environment.

"I want to learn the game at a deeper level while bringing in my own coaching experience and perspective. I'm excited to work under Coach Laura, learn from her experience, and also be someone that she can rely on," she says. "Most importantly, I want to build good relationships with the players and staff and help create a positive, competitive environment," she adds.

"And I want to win."


 
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