When he was with the Nebraska women’s soccer team, Scott Ebke was a student assistant coach and Rebecca Hornbacher was one of his players. Now at Iowa State, Ebke is the assistant coach and Hornbacher is at the helm — and for him, that’s the way it should be.

“I look at her as someone who I helped coach, but actually more as a mentor of the game,” he said. “The games that she’s played, the coaching experience she’s had — she brings a wealth of experience to the table.”

Hornbacher had the same opinion of Ebke when she first called him in February. His name rose to the top of the list, she said, not because of their acquaintance, but because of his credentials and experience.

“The one thing that made Scott stand out is his great experience in Division I coaching and his ability to be a successful mentor on and off the field for student athletes,” she said.

Ebke was officially announced as an assistant for the upcoming season on March 28.

During each of Ebke’s three seasons at Nebraska, the Cornhuskers earned top-10 finishes and bids to the NCAA women’s soccer tournament, including quarterfinal finishes in 1998 and 1999. He then took the full-time assistant coaching job at Mississippi State in 2000 where he concentrated on goalkeeper instruction.

Ebke said his duties at Iowa State will be similar to the ones he held at Mississippi State, except he will be a field coach rather than goalkeeping coach. He will also be doing recruiting and general administrative work, as well as helping his players succeed off the field.

“I’m 100 percent about the student-athlete and achieving in the classroom,” he said.

Both Ebke and Hornbacher believe their familiarity with each other’s coaching styles will make his transition into the ISU program a smooth one.

“I think he would understand very quickly the kind of play that I’m trying to instill in my players … to be more direct in our play in the sense of creating more attacking opportunities,” Hornbacher said.

Besides moving to a familiar coaching philosophy, Ebke will be returning near to where he grew up playing soccer. He was born in Des Moines and played high school varsity soccer in Johnston before graduating and moving to Nebraska to play for the semi-professional Lincoln Brigade Soccer Club and to volunteer coach the Cornhuskers.

“To get back home, as anyone will say, is neat to have. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to come about and present itself to me,” he said. “I always thought I’d be back in the Midwest — I didn’t think it’d be this quick.”

Ebke will see the Cyclones in competition for the first time as their assistant coach this Saturday when the Cyclones host scrimmages against St. Croix and Tsunami Sota, beginning at 12:45 p.m. Admission is free.