SCHENECTADY — One-time University at Albany women’s soccer assistant coach Karen Gurnon is the new Union College women’s soccer coach, the school announced Tuesday. She replaced Brian Speck, who announced his retirement on Feb. 7 after 25 years as head coach.
Gurnon was with the Great Danes during the 2015 season. She has spent the last three years as head coach at Nichols College in Dudley, Massachusetts. She went 19-32-2 in her three seasons. Last year, the team posted a 10-9 record, its first winning season since 2010. The team ranked second all-time at the school with seven shutouts and got off to the best eight-game start (7-1-0) in program history, as well.
“We are happy to welcome Karen as the next coach of our women’s soccer program,” Union College athletic director Jim McLaughlin said in a press release. “Her passion for the game and for her student-athletes was very evident during the interview process and I believe it will make her a great asset to our program. We look forward to seeing her guide our student-athletes to success on and off the field beginning in the fall.”
“I would like to thank Jim McLaughlin, [associate athletic director] Beth Tiffany, and the entire search committee for this opportunity to join the Union College community,” Gurnon said in a press release. “It has been a pleasure to meet many staff members and women’s soccer student-athletes through this interview process. I am extremely excited to get started with the current team, connect with future recruits, and continue to develop the great women’s soccer tradition at Union. I would also like to thank [athletic director] Eric Gobiel for his support and professionalism during my time at Nichols.”
Previously, Gurnon spent one season as the head women’s soccer coach at Newbury College in 2016, and also was an assistant coach on the at Colgate University in 2014.
Gurnon played at UConn from 2008-12, serving as a four-year starter on defense for the Huskies. She played in 83 games, starting 75 of them. She was a co-captain her senior season.
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Categories: -Sports-, College Sports
