by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
A former high school and college standout with a wealth of coaching experience at both levels. Sara Matthews is the new women’s soccer assistant coach at Kansas City Kansas Community College.
“We’re real fortunate to have someone like Sara who has college coaching experience both as a head coach and as an assistant,” KCKCC head coach Shawn Uhlenhake said. “I look forward to working with her and excited our players will have a good mentor.”
Matthews’ experience includes four years as head women’s soccer coach at Avila University, four years as an assistant at Baker University and one year as a graduate assistant at Washburn University.
In addition, she coaches two high school age club teams with KC Fusion where she won a US Youth Soccer Region II Champions and was named 2017 KSYSA (Kansas Youth Soccer Association) Girls Competitive Coach of the Year.
“I’m excited,” Matthews said. “It’s the perfect opportunity for me to stay close to home and use the experience and resources that I have gained in the region, both in the club and college soccer world. I can’t wait to get to work with Shawn (Uhlenhake) and our players.”
A 2005 graduate of Olathe East High School where she played varsity soccer for four years, Matthews earned a scholarship to Baker University where she also played four years as one of Baker’s most versatile players.
An All-Heart of America Conference selection at a forward as a sophomore, Matthews moved to midfield as a junior and then finished her career as a defender. She was named Baker’s Female Athlete of the Year as a junior and was a three-year team captain on a team that reached the conference semifinals.
Matthews graduated with a major in business in 2009 and then served a year as graduate assistant at NCAA Division II Washburn University while earning a Master’s degree in Business Administration. She returned to Baker in 2010 and was an assistant coach on a Braves’ team that reached the NAIA Final Four in 2010, the Elite Eight in 2011 and the Sweet 16 in 2012. For the past four seasons, Matthews was head coach at Avila University.
Matthews holds an NSCAA (now United Soccer Coaches) Advanced National Diploma, a USSF License and a Coerver Youth Diploma.
“Sara’s background and experience coaching at the club and college level in the area should be a great asset for recruiting local talent,” Uhlenhake said. “In addition, she’s going to provide a great resource for our players moving on. She knows what it takes to play at the four-year level and will be a great addition to help train and prepare our players to be successful at that level.”