Illinois hires Katie Hultin as new head coach of Fighting Illini soccer program

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – University of Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman announced the hiring of Katie Hultin as Fighting Illini head soccer coach. Hultin has agreed to a five-year contract, pending approval by the UI Board of Trustees at its January meeting.

Hultin, a former Janet Rayfield assistant, returns to Illinois following a successful three-year stint at Grand Valley State University, where she led the Lakers to two NCAA Tournament regional titles in three postseason appearances, to go along with one GLIAC regular season and one tournament championship.

“We are incredibly excited to welcome Katie Hultin as the fourth head coach of Fighting Illini soccer,” Whitman said. “She comes to us after three successful seasons leading one of the nation’s most tradition-rich NCAA Division II programs, where she amassed a remarkable regular- and post-season record. Katie brings a wealth of experience with schools now in the Big Ten, including Michigan, Oregon, and two years on staff here at Illinois under Janet Rayfield. During our conversations, Katie has shown herself to be a world-class competitor, a teacher and a developer of people. Importantly, she understands the proud tradition of the Fighting Illini and is eager to build on the foundation left by Coach Rayfield. She is the right leader at the right time to realize the championship potential of Illinois soccer. I want thank Katie, Susan and their children for trusting us and joining our famILLy!”

Hultin posted an overall record of 45-7-19 (.768) at GVSU, including a 26-3-13 (.774) mark in conference play. Her previous coaching stops include the University of Michigan (2018-21), University of Oregon (2016-17) and Seattle University (2009-13).

This past season, Hultin guided the Lakers to a 15-1-8 record with an 8-1-5 mark in league play to earn the No. 3 seed in the Midwest Region of the DII NCAA Tournament. Hultin would capture the 17th regional title in program history, earning a second-straight quarterfinal appearance. Hultin coached the GLIAC Goalkeeper of the Year and had seven players earn all-conference honors.

“I am beyond thrilled to be the next head coach for Illinois women’s soccer,” Hultin said. “It is an incredible honor to lead this program and build on the remarkable legacy that Janet Rayfield has established. I want to express my deepest gratitude to Josh and the entire Illinois administration for their belief in me and their trust in my vision for the future of this team. Their support and confidence mean the world to me, and I am excited to pour my heart into continuing to elevate this program both on and off the field. I can’t wait to get to work with our student-athletes to achieve greatness.”

In her second season in 2023, Hultin’s squad went 14-4-6 overall and 8-1-5 in the GLIAC, where she earned her first regional title at the helm of the program. She coached two All-Americans while three earned All-GLIAC nods.

In her debut season at GVSU in 2022, Hultin led the program to a 16-2-5 overall record and a 10-1-3 mark in conference play. The Lakers swept the GLIAC regular season and tournament crowns, earning the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region, where they made a regional final appearance. Hultin, named GLIAC Coach of the Year, had two players named to All-America teams, eight named All-GLIAC, while also having players named the league’s offensive player, defensive player and goalkeeper of the year.

Hultin graduated from Washington State University in 2005 with a degree in biology, where she was a four-year letterwinner in goal for the Cougars. Upon her graduation from Pullman, she ranked first in shutouts (21), second in saves (248), and third all-time in wins (23). During her career, she garnered numerous accolades, including being named a three-time All-Pac 10 honoree, and Washington State’s team MVP in 2004 and Most Inspirational from 2003-05. Hultin helped lead the Cougars to the NCAA Tournament in 2003.

Following her collegiate career, her playing experience also included professional stints with the W-League’s Arizona Heatwave, Mile High Mustangs and the Seattle Sounders.

During her first coaching stop at Seattle University as an assistant, Hultin spent all five years working with the goalkeepers. Her unit turned in a 1.00 goals against average or better in all five seasons, which culminated in Western Athletic Conference regular season and tournament championships in 2013, the program’s first-ever team to reach the postseason.

After her success at Seattle, Rayfield hired Hultin in 2014 to serve as the program’s goalkeeper coach, where she made an immediate impact. The year prior, Illinois keepers allowed 50 goals and only recorded one shutout, but after just one season, Illini keepers recorded six shutouts and drastically cut the number of goals allowed to 19. Those performances continued in 2015, as her unit produced four shutouts and only allowed 24 goals for a 1.26 goals against average.

“My sincere congratulations to Katie,” Rayfield said. “When I announced my retirement, I said I was confident in the future of this program because of the players and their commitment to the program and each other and because of the trust I had in Josh and the administration. My confidence continues to grow with the announcement of Katie Hultin as the next head coach of the Illinois women’s soccer program. She has a place in our history and now she will forge our future. I am extremely excited to see where she will take this program. Her vast experience and knowledge, her proven commitment to excellence and a winning culture, and her value-driven desire to develop young women make Katie a perfect fit for this program and this time. The future of Illinois soccer is bright!”

Following her stint in Champaign, Hultin spent two years at Oregon, also working with the goalkeepers and defense. While coaching the Ducks, she also served as an assistant coach on the U.S. Soccer U17, U18 and U19 Women’s National Team, working with the goalkeepers as the team earned a CONCACAF Championship.

Hultin then spent four seasons at Michigan, where she served as associate head coach on the 2021 team that reached the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals. Working primarily with the defense, she helped the Wolverines to 12 clean sheets, one off the school record, during that 2021 campaign, while also coaching United Soccer Coaches First Team All-American Alia Martin. Between three regular fall seasons, Hultin’s defense collected 24 shutouts with the number growing each season.

A native of Denver, Colo., Hultin was a member of the Colorado State ODP team and Region IV team from 1997-2001. Her coaching experience also includes being the Girls’ Coaching Director at FC Alliance and on the Region IV ODP staff. She currently holds her USFF A License. Hultin and her wife, Susan, have three children; twin boys Owen and Wilder and a daughter, Scotty.