Kathryn Balogun named UTEP soccer head coach
UTEP confirmed Monday afternoon that Kathryn Balogun will take over as head coach of the women’s soccer team.
Balogun spent the last five seasons guiding the program at Texas Southern to new heights.
The Tigers went 31-13-6 over that span in SWAC play and achieved the program’s highest RPI under Balogun.
“It is obvious that the Miner community shares many of the same values I do and I look forward to bringing excellence on the field, in the classroom, and in the community to the Sun City,” said Balogun.
This is the first change in leadership for the UTEP soccer program in nearly two decades after Kevin Cross, who coached the team for 18 years, was removed a little over a month ago.
UTEP athletic director Jim Senter believes Balogun’s Texas connections will help UTEP going forward.
“She has strong recruiting ties in the state of Texas and is committed to recruiting the best student athletes in our state and region,” said Senter. “Kathryn has demonstrated experiences as a player, assistant coach, and head coach. We are confident she can build a program that competes for and wins Conference USA Championships.”
Off the field, Balogun worked to elevate the Tigers’ team grade point average more than a full point to 3.3 during her tenure while graduating all of her student athletes. She also helped to raise over $20,000 annually for the soccer program.
She previously served as an assistant coach at Alabama State (2011-13), a graduate assistant coach at Auburn University-Montgomery (2010-11), and an associate coach at Darlington Soccer Academy in Rome, Ga. (2008-10).
