Via SLU Billikens – Katherine “Kat” Mertz, an NCAA Division I women’s soccer coaching veteran who most recently served two years as a University of Texas assistant, has been named head women’s soccer coach at Saint Louis University. She is pictured from 2008 Women’s U20 training, with Alyssa Naeher, Kelley O’Hara, Coach Mertz, Casey Nogueira and Kristin Arnold)
Mertz has made nine NCAA Tournament appearances in four collegiate coaching stints covering 13 seasons. She also has extensive coaching experience with the U.S. Women’s Youth National Team and the Olympic Development Program.
“I am excited and honored to be the head women’s soccer coach at Saint Louis University,” Mertz said. “I am grateful to (Vice President for Student Development) Dr. Kent Porterfield, (Director of Athletics) Chris May and the athletics staff for believing in me to lead the Billiken women’s soccer program back to national prominence.
“The University’s academic prestige, great athletic facilities and family atmosphere, under the leadership of (University President) Father Biondi, make me excited to call SLU home,” Mertz said. “There is a rich soccer tradition and history in St. Louis, and I look forward to becoming part of it.”
Mertz helped guide Texas to the NCAA Tournament in 2010 and 2011. The Longhorns placed nine student-athletes on the All-Big 12 squad and 19 on the Academic All-Conference team during her tenure.
Prior to her stint at Texas, Mertz served five seasons (2005-09) as head coach at UNLV. She compiled a 49-39-19 record and led the Rebels to two NCAA Tournament berths (2005, 2006), two Mountain West Conference Tournament titles (2005, 2006) and the MWC regular-season crown in 2007, when she was named the league’s Coach of the Year.
In Mertz’s first season, UNLV set school records for wins and fewest goals allowed. The program achieved its first undefeated home record in 2007 and its first national ranking in 2008. Mertz coached 17 All-Conference performers at UNLV, including an MWC co-Offensive Player of the Year, and three All-Region honorees. During her five seasons, the Rebels produced 60 Academic All-Conference selections, three College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District choices and one CoSIDA Academic All-American.
Mertz was the lead assistant coach at UCLA for five years (2000-04). The Bruins reached the NCAA Tournament round of 16 in each of those seasons and advanced to the NCAA College Cup in 2000, 2003 and 2004. UCLA won three Pac-10 championships and produced numerous All-Americans, Pac-10 Players of the Year and Academic All-Americans during Mertz’s time with the program.
Before coming to UCLA, Mertz spent the 1999 campaign as an assistant coach at Virginia.
A member of the U.S. Women’s National Team’s U-20 and U-18 coaching staff since 2007, Mertz helped lead the U-20 squad to the 2008 FIFA World Cup title. She was an assistant coach for the WNT U-15 team in its inaugural season in 2004, and last year she became a national scout for the Youth National Team programs.
Mertz served as head coach of the Olympic Development Program Region IV ’94 age group team and was the ODP Region IV assistant director of goalkeeping from 2004 to 2010.
Mertz was a four-year starting goalkeeper (1994-97) at North Carolina State, where she helped the Wolfpack qualify for three NCAA Tournaments and reach the 1995 national quarterfinals. A starter in 88 of a possible 90 matches, she owns school records for saves in a career (436) and season (135, 1994) and ranks third in career shutouts (24).
Following her collegiate career, Mertz played two seasons for the Raleigh Wings, a W-1 (top tier) team in the United Soccer Leagues W-League. The Wings were league champions both years.
Mertz earned a bachelor’s degree in natural resources, ecosystem assessment, at North Carolina State. She holds a United States Soccer Federation “A” national coaching license and a National Soccer Coaches Association of America Advanced National Diploma.
Read more about Coach Mertz here
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