Karley Nelson promoted to UNM Lobo women's soccer coach
UNM Lobo soccer players learned one week ago their head coach, Heather Dyche, would be leaving the program to be pursuing a job with the U.S. Women鈥檚 U-23 National Team.
Wednesday, those same players learned the program was hardly abandoned.
Karley Nelson, the popular associate head coach who worked with Dyche for the past 11 years, was introduced Wednesday as the program鈥檚 fifth head coach 鈥 ensuring a continuity in what has been a championship-contending, and winning, program for more than a decade.
鈥淚鈥檓 excited to build on the strong foundation of excellence, culture, and community that defines Lobo Soccer,鈥 Nelson said in a statement released by the school. 鈥淭hank you to Fernando (Lovo, UNM鈥檚 Athletic Director), our athletics administration, and our community for entrusting me as the next leader. Thank you, also, to our student-athletes for being outstanding representatives of our program.鈥
Nelson also made sure to thank her close friend, and (now former) coaching colleague.
鈥淭hank you to Heather, who brought me here 11 years ago and allowed me to learn all aspects of our program,鈥 Nelson said. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to get to work.鈥
Lovo made the announcement public Wednesday afternoon after first talking with the team in person about the hire and after a national search 鈥 one he ultimately determined pointed right back to Albuquerque and Nelson.
鈥淎fter numerous interviews and thoughtful discussions, it was clear that Karley was the best fit to lead our program moving forward,鈥 Lovo said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 a proven leader who embodies what it means to be a Lobo: committed, competitive, and student-centered. Her deep connection to the program and her vision for its future make her the ideal person to lead UNM women鈥檚 soccer into its next chapter.鈥
Nelson, a native of Orem, Utah, and a graduate of Grand Canyon University 鈥 where she was a star player two decades ago before a brief professional playing career overseas 鈥 was hired by Dyche in 2015 as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. She has played an integral part in the program鈥檚 success since then, including since being promoted to associate head coach in 2919.
In the past 11 years, Lobo soccer has a 94-52-28 overall record including going 59-32-19 in the Mountain West, where UNM claimed four regular season championships in that span and the 2021 Mountain West Tournament Championship that led to the NCAA Tournament.
More specifically, Nelson has mentored the team鈥檚 defense, which set a program record for consecutive shutout minutes (602:51) in 2022 and posted their lowest goals-against average (0.82) since 2011.
Nelson has been and continues to be involved with coaching with the Women鈥檚 Youth National Teams (WYNT) and as a coaching educator with 近距离内射合集 Soccer Coaches.