(ST NORBERT COMMUNICATIONS) DE PERE – Katie Guns has been named St. Norbert College head women’s soccer coach, athletics director Cam Fuller announced.
A proven winner with St. Norbert in her blood, the former Katie Vanden Avond is one of the most decorated athletes in college history. The only female athlete in school history to have her jersey number retired, Guns has been an assistant coach with the Green Knights’ women’s soccer program since 2017. She will begin her full-time duties on Nov. 25.
“Katie embodies the four pillars of our department – academic success, athletic competitiveness, student-athlete experience and community building,” Fuller said. “She distinguished herself from a talented pool of candidates and is the type of leader we seek. She has achieved so much as a student-athlete and her dedication to excellence will undoubtedly propel the success of our women’s soccer program.”
Guns, a 2015 St. Norbert graduate and a De Pere native, is the all-time NCAA Division III leader and is second in all NCAA divisions in career goals scored with 130. Her career point total of 281 is currently seventh in all divisions. Guns is one of two players in NCAA soccer history to have two seasons with at least 37 goals scored, including a school-record total of 39 in 2015.
“I am thrilled to be stepping into the head coaching role for women’s soccer during a time when the team has so much momentum and potential,” Guns said. “I would like to thank Bob Rickards for taking this program to the next level during his time as head coach and I look forward to building upon the existing culture. St. Norbert soccer is in my blood and I am eager to get started.”
Guns led St. Norbert to some of its brightest moments on the soccer pitch, including its only NCAA Division III Tournament appearance in 2013. The Green Knights won Midwest Conference championships in 2011 and 2013, posting a 49-23-8 record during her four playing seasons.
Guns was selected a two-time All-America honoree by D3soccer.com and once by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (currently United Soccer Coaches). She was also a two-time first-team Academic All-America honoree by CoSIDA (currently College Sports Communicators). Guns was also a three-time Midwest Conference Offensive Player of the Year and was a team captain for two years.
Guns resides in De Pere with her husband, Kory, and children, Porter and Yukon.
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