Rice University women’s soccer adds Megan Kinneman to staff
(Via Rice University) – Former LSU assistant coach Megan Kinneman has joined the Rice Soccer staff as an assistant coach, announced Owl head coach Brian Lee.
Kinneman had served the previous two seasons as an LSU assistant coach, where the Tigers won a SEC Championship and advanced to the second round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament. A year ago Kinneman coached LSU goalkeeper Caroline Brockmeier to SEC Tournament MVP honors, as well as a pair of new single season school records for saves and shutouts (records which Kinneman previously held).
“Megan is one of the top young coaches in college soccer,” said Brian Lee. “She is an elite goalkeeper trainer, but brings so much more to the program. She is a tireless recruiter, tactically astute and a great culture builder. Most of all, she is a wonderful person with a strong moral compass that our players can be confident in leaning on as a coach, role model and mentor.”
Kinneman in fact set a host of school records in a sensational four-year playing career at LSU from 2010-2013. She finished as the Tigers’ all-time record holder for career saves (284) while ranking second on the school’s list for complete game shutouts (17) and third in goalkeeper wins (24). Her success on the field was only part of the story as she was a two-time selection to the SEC Academic Honor Roll, a SEC All-Freshman Team honoree, and member of the SEC Community Service Team.
After graduating from LSU with a degree in sport administration and a concentration in sport commerce with a minor in business, Kinneman played professionally for two seasons for the Houston Dash in the National Women’s Soccer League and Arna Bjornar FC in the Norwegian first division in 2014 and 2015.
While with the Dash in 2014 and 2015 she served as an assistant coach with Houston Dynamo/Dash Academy Goalkeeper Program. She has also been on staff at the Dynasty Goalkeeping Camp in Raleigh, North Carolina, since 2011, and coached the goalkeepers with the Catholic High School boys’ team in Baton Rouge from 2012-14. Her first full time Division I coaching job was at UNC-Greensboro in 2016, where she tutored Chloe Buehler to all-conference honors as a junior.
As a native of nearby Missouri City, Texas, Kinneman already has a familiarity with club and high school teams throughout the greater Houston area. She was a member of the Under-15 U.S. Youth National Team player pool and a four-year veteran of the Region III Olympic Development Program. Kinneman played club at both Challenge and Eclipse, and she was a prep star at Elkins High School where she was tabbed as one of the Top 100 recruits in the nation by TopDrawerSoccer.com.
Kinneman has been certified by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America with the NSCAA National Diploma and NSCAA Goalkeeping Diploma as well as the USSF “E” License by the U.S. Soccer Federation.