UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State women’s soccer program has added Kelly Lawrence as a volunteer assistant coach for the upcoming 2022 season.
Lawrence brings 10 years of NCAA Division I coaching experience to her first season with the Nittany Lions, having coached at Boston, Syracuse and Monmouth. She adds seven years of national team experience, and as a collegiate player, she was a four-year starter on the back line for the Indiana Hoosiers.
“Kelly brings a wealth of experience and knowledge having worked with some of the best coaches in the country,” said Penn State head coach Erica Dambach. “She was one of our favorite players to watch in the B1G during her time at Indiana, and we’re thrilled to have her join in our program!”
Lawrence arrives from Boston University where she served as associate head coach for three seasons (2019-21) under head coach Nancy Feldman.
During her third season (2021) as an associate head coach, Lawrence helped guide the Terriers to the Patriot League regular season championship, going 6-1-2 in league play and 11-6-3 overall to reach the Patriot League championship final. In her second season (2020) in Boston, Lawrence assisted the Terriers to clinch the Patriot League North Division in a shortened spring season.
In total at BU, Lawrence had 13 players named All-Patriot league, 3 players added to the All-Patriot League Tournament Team and a league Defensive Player of the Year in Jenna Oldham.
One of her All-Patriot league honorees, Anna Heilferty, went on to be drafted 19th overall by the Washington Spirit in the 2021 NWSL draft. Lawrence also coached current Nittany Lion goalkeeper Morgan Messner while she played for the Terriers.
“Kelly’s a wonderful coaching professional because she’s a wonderful human being,” said Boston University head coach Nancy Feldman. “She’s a student of the game and has proved here she really knows how to teach the sport to individuals, groups and the team as a whole.
“It is about her human relationships and her understanding of student athletes as a whole person and her interest in mentoring and connecting with them that drives her success.”
While in Massachusetts, Lawrence was a member of the Boston University Social Justice & Inclusion Committee and coach advocate for the Terrier Student-Athlete Ally…
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