COLLEGE SOCCER: Florida Tech Panthers Hire Katy Freels as Women’s Soccer Head Coach
By Christina Hardman, Florida Tech News Bureau // January 18, 2024
recently served as a volunteer assistant
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Director of Athletics Jamie Joss announced Katy Freels as the new head coach of the Florida Tech women’s soccer program. A former NWSL player and two-time All-American at Auburn, Freels becomes the sixth head coach in program history.
“We are ecstatic to appoint Katy Freels as our new coach, as she embodies our scholars, champions, and leaders mission,” said Joss. “Her impressive achievements as an athlete, including earning the NSCAA Scholar-athlete of the Year, highlight her commitment to academic excellence.
Katy’s strong collegiate career at Auburn, where she served as a volunteer assistant for four years, and her recognition as a member of the SEC women’s Legends class of 2019 showcases her dedication to the sport.
“Being a part-time assistant at Florida Tech, Katy has quickly formed strong connections with athletic staff and reinforced this during the search process. Her impressive qualifications, including her achievements as a scholar-athlete and her vast professional and US Soccer national team experience, played a significant role in her earning the confidence and unanimous support of our staff as our new coach.
“Katy brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our team. Her coaching mentors have further enhanced her understanding of the game, her ability to recruit and identify talent, and develop athletes’ individual skills and team success.
“Katy will have an immediate positive impact on our women’s soccer program; her strong bonds with our players were evident in the team interaction, and we are confident this will lead to a seamless transition and continued success in the SSC and nationally.”
Freels takes over the helm after serving as a volunteer assistant on the Panther’s coaching staff since 2020.
During her three seasons, the Panthers saw much success, claiming the South Region Championship twice, making a final four appearance, and reaching the Sunshine State Conference tournament championship for three consecutive seasons.
Freels was a member of the staff that earned the United Soccer Coaches Regional Staff of the Year in 2023.
“I want to sincerely thank Jamie Joss and the entire search committee for this incredible opportunity to lead Florida Tech’s women’s soccer program,” said Freels. “This team means so much to me, and I am humbled that I get to work with the scholar athletes at this fantastic institution.
“I look forward to building on the tremendous work and foundations set by former head coach Ryan Moon, and I cannot thank him enough for his influence and impact on my coaching career these last few years. I am so excited to get started and continue building a legacy of success both on and off the field here at Florida Tech.”
Prior to Florida Tech, Freels served as a volunteer assistant coach at her alma mater, Auburn, from 2011-2014. During this time, the Tigers compiled a 48-34-10 overall record with an SEC Tournament Title and three NCAA appearances.
Additionally, Freels had an accomplished playing career, both in college and professionally.
Freels played for the Western New York Flash in the Women’s Premier Soccer League Elite, (WPSL Elite, in 2012, the top division of women’s soccer in the United States at the time, and helped lead the team to the league championship title.
A year later, in 2013, Freels was selected in the first round, fifth overall, of the 2013 NWSL Supplemental Draft by Sky Blue FC in the National Women’s Soccer League. She played three seasons with Sky Blue FC, making 65 appearances tallying 11 goals and 12 assists.
Freels also played for the United States at the U-20 and U-23 levels. She was a member of the U-23 team that won the 2008 Nordic Cup in Falun, Sweden, where she played in three of the four matches and contributed to the squad’s not surrendering a goal in four matches.
A former standout Scholar-Athlete at Auburn from 2008-2011, Freels was named a member of the Southeastern Conference 2019 Class of Women’s Legends.
During her collegiate career, Freels led Auburn to an SEC Tournament Championship and four NCAA Tournament appearances.
Freels holds Auburn’s career records in assists (42) and points (104) and ranks fifth in SEC history in assists. She also ranks tied for second in program history in game-winning goals (11) and fourth in goals (31).
Freels paced the Tigers in points in each of her four seasons on The Plains and led the team in goals and assists on three occasions.
The Homewood, Alabama, native is one of five soccer student-athletes in SEC history to be named First Team All-SEC four times, including the 2008 SEC Freshman of the Year. She was a two-time National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-American (2010-11) and is the only Hermann Trophy semifinalist in program history (2010).
Freels was a two-time CoSIDA and NSCAA Academic All-American (2010-11) and was not only named the 2010 NSCAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year but also the 2011 SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Freels earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science: International Relations from Auburn in 2011. Freels resides in Melbourne with her husband, Kevin, and their three kids, Kinsey, Canon, and Crew.
CLICK HERE FOR BREVARD COUNTY NEWS
