TicketsCINCINNATI— University of Cincinnati soccer head coach Erica Demers announced on Wednesday the official hiring of associate head coach Paul Babba and assistant coach Olivia Silverman.
"I am extremely excited for both Paul and Olivia to join our staff," Demers said.
"Beyond experience and being great coaches, being a good person, loyalty, and trust are major traits we look for and both exemplify these qualities beyond expectations."
// ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH PAUL BABBA
Babba joins the UC staff after spending the last two seasons as the head coach of Bellarmine's women's soccer program. He has more than 16 years of collegiate soccer coaching experience, including other head coaching roles at Delta State, Bryan College and Kentucky.
"Paul will not only up bring a wealth of experience but a wealth of experience at high levels," Demers said.
"Being a standing head coach, I am so excited to learn and collaborate with Paul as our staff navigates to enhance our team both on and off the field."
During his two-year stint at Bellarmine, he led one of the top defensive units in the ASUN. The Knights ranked second in the conference in goals-against average (0.88) while tying for third in shutouts (eight) in 2022.
Prior to joining Bellarmine, he spent two seasons as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at Kentucky, where he also assumed the role of interim head coach for the final three games of the fall 2021 campaign.
Before heading to Lexington, Babba served as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at Elon and helped lead the Phoenix to a 12-6-2 season and the program's first-ever berth in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament.
In 2017 he was recognized as the Appalachian Athletic Conference Coach of the Year as he led Bryan College to its first-ever AAC regular-season championship and berth in the NAIA National Tournament while posting the winningest season in program history at 12-7 overall and 9-2 in conference play.
Under his guidance that season, the Lions also garnered AAC acknowledgments for Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. In his two seasons at Bryan College, the program accumulated nine All-AAC and 13 All-Academic Team honors.
Babba's first head-coaching job at the collegiate level came at Delta State University, a Division II program in Mississippi, and led the program for five years (2011-15).
He played collegiately from 2003-06 at Belhaven University, where he was a team captain his last two seasons and ranked third all-time at the school in points (92) and tied for third in goals (37). After college, he played two summers for Mississippi Brilla FC.
Babba earned a bachelor's degree in sports administration at Belhaven and a master's degree in athletic administration at Mississippi College. He possesses a USSF National 'A' Senior License, which is the highest qualification for coaches at the university level.
A native of Jos, Nigeria, Babba has a wife, Laura, and three children: Noah, Micah and Hannah.
// ASSISTANT COACH OLIVIA SILVERMAN
The Cincinnati native, Silverman returns to her hometown after spending the last five years coaching at her alma mater, Saint Louis, working primarily with the goalkeepers.
"Olivia had an electric passionate personality from the moment we had our first call," Demers said.
"Her desire to be at Cincinnati and to help our program raise ourselves to the next standard resonated with our players and staff. Very excited to have Olivia on the sidelines with us."
Following two seasons as a volunteer assistant for the Billikens, the SLU graduate and former Billiken goalkeeper was elevated to assistant coach in 2021.
During her time as a coach, she has helped lead Saint Louis to five straight Atlantic 10 Tournament Championships and five straight NCAA tournament appearances as the Billikens advanced all the way to the Sweet Sixteen in 2023.
In 2022, Silverman's work as a goalkeeper coach played a key role in the team breaking the program record for wins in a single season. SLU finished the year with a record of 20-2 and 10-0 in conference play as SLU allowed only 10 goals all season long.
Silverman played three seasons (2016-18) at Saint Louis and concluded her career sixth in shutouts (11), seventh in wins (17), ninth in minutes (2,106) and 10th in saves (50) on SLU's career lists.
A two-year team captain for Seven Hills School in Cincinnati. She was a four-time All-Conference selection and a two-time All-City choice and she garnered All-America and All-State honors as a senior.
She is a 2020 graduate of Saint Louis University and earned a bachelor's degree in public health.
"I am extremely excited for both Paul and Olivia to join our staff," Demers said.
"Beyond experience and being great coaches, being a good person, loyalty, and trust are major traits we look for and both exemplify these qualities beyond expectations."
// ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH PAUL BABBA
Babba joins the UC staff after spending the last two seasons as the head coach of Bellarmine's women's soccer program. He has more than 16 years of collegiate soccer coaching experience, including other head coaching roles at Delta State, Bryan College and Kentucky.
"Paul will not only up bring a wealth of experience but a wealth of experience at high levels," Demers said.
"Being a standing head coach, I am so excited to learn and collaborate with Paul as our staff navigates to enhance our team both on and off the field."
During his two-year stint at Bellarmine, he led one of the top defensive units in the ASUN. The Knights ranked second in the conference in goals-against average (0.88) while tying for third in shutouts (eight) in 2022.
Prior to joining Bellarmine, he spent two seasons as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at Kentucky, where he also assumed the role of interim head coach for the final three games of the fall 2021 campaign.
Before heading to Lexington, Babba served as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at Elon and helped lead the Phoenix to a 12-6-2 season and the program's first-ever berth in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament.
In 2017 he was recognized as the Appalachian Athletic Conference Coach of the Year as he led Bryan College to its first-ever AAC regular-season championship and berth in the NAIA National Tournament while posting the winningest season in program history at 12-7 overall and 9-2 in conference play.
Under his guidance that season, the Lions also garnered AAC acknowledgments for Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. In his two seasons at Bryan College, the program accumulated nine All-AAC and 13 All-Academic Team honors.
Babba's first head-coaching job at the collegiate level came at Delta State University, a Division II program in Mississippi, and led the program for five years (2011-15).
He played collegiately from 2003-06 at Belhaven University, where he was a team captain his last two seasons and ranked third all-time at the school in points (92) and tied for third in goals (37). After college, he played two summers for Mississippi Brilla FC.
Babba earned a bachelor's degree in sports administration at Belhaven and a master's degree in athletic administration at Mississippi College. He possesses a USSF National 'A' Senior License, which is the highest qualification for coaches at the university level.
A native of Jos, Nigeria, Babba has a wife, Laura, and three children: Noah, Micah and Hannah.
// ASSISTANT COACH OLIVIA SILVERMAN
The Cincinnati native, Silverman returns to her hometown after spending the last five years coaching at her alma mater, Saint Louis, working primarily with the goalkeepers.
"Olivia had an electric passionate personality from the moment we had our first call," Demers said.
"Her desire to be at Cincinnati and to help our program raise ourselves to the next standard resonated with our players and staff. Very excited to have Olivia on the sidelines with us."
Following two seasons as a volunteer assistant for the Billikens, the SLU graduate and former Billiken goalkeeper was elevated to assistant coach in 2021.
During her time as a coach, she has helped lead Saint Louis to five straight Atlantic 10 Tournament Championships and five straight NCAA tournament appearances as the Billikens advanced all the way to the Sweet Sixteen in 2023.
In 2022, Silverman's work as a goalkeeper coach played a key role in the team breaking the program record for wins in a single season. SLU finished the year with a record of 20-2 and 10-0 in conference play as SLU allowed only 10 goals all season long.
Silverman played three seasons (2016-18) at Saint Louis and concluded her career sixth in shutouts (11), seventh in wins (17), ninth in minutes (2,106) and 10th in saves (50) on SLU's career lists.
A two-year team captain for Seven Hills School in Cincinnati. She was a four-time All-Conference selection and a two-time All-City choice and she garnered All-America and All-State honors as a senior.
She is a 2020 graduate of Saint Louis University and earned a bachelor's degree in public health.