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HomeSportsAustin Peay State University selects Naomi Kolarova as next APSU Women's Soccer...

Austin Peay State University selects Naomi Kolarova as next APSU Women’s Soccer head coach

APSU Sports Information

APSU Soccer - Austin Peay State UniversityClarksville, TN – Naomi Kolarova, who registered 118 wins in 12 seasons at Tennessee Wesleyan, has been named head coach for Austin Peay State University women’s soccer team, athletics director Ryan Ivey announced Thursday.

Austin Peay announces Naomi Kolarova to be the next head coach for Women's Soccer. (APSU Sports Information)
Austin Peay announces Naomi Kolarova to be the next head coach for Women’s Soccer. (APSU Sports Information)

Kolarova, who took the Tennessee Wesleyan to the NAIA National Quarterfinals last season, becomes the second head coach of the Governors soccer team. She takes over for Kelley Guth who resigned in November after leading the program since its inception in 2002.

“What a great day for our women’s soccer program,” said Ivey. “We are excited to welcome Naomi and her family to Austin Peay and Clarksville.  I am confident that with her experience and approach she will be able to move our program to the next level and compete for OVC Championships on a consistent basis.

“I also would like to once again thank Kelley Guth for her service and work over the past 16 years on behalf of our women’s soccer program.  To be able to start a program and grow it to what it is today, is a phenomenal feat, and she deserves our utmost respect.”

“I am thrilled to be joining the Austin Peay community and the women’s soccer program,” said Kolarova. “I want to thank [Austin Peay president] Dr. Alisa White, Ryan Ivey, and the search committee for this opportunity. The atmosphere in athletics that Ryan has built in his time at APSU is exciting and I look forward to being a member of the Govs athletic department staff.

“Coach Guth has created a solid foundation in the Govs soccer program and I am very excited about continuing to propel the program in a positive and successful direction. I’m eager to get on campus and begin work with our returners as well as hit the ground recruiting for our future.”

Kolarova Snapshot

  • Becomes second coach in Austin Peay women’s soccer history after signing a four-year contract
  • Her 2017 Tennessee Wesleyan team became the first women’s team in school history to reach the NAIA national tournament quarterfinals
  • Led TWU to its only three NAIA National Tournament appearances
  • The Lady Bulldogs No. 11 ranking at end of 2017 season was the program’s first national ranking
  • Coached Tennessee Wesleyan’s first NAIA All-American
  • Her teams received NAIA academic recognition four times since 201213 and 10 women’s soccer student-athletes received NAIA Scholar-Athlete honors
  • Was a four-time NSCAA Division II All-American as a player at Lock Haven and Metropolitan State-Denver

Kolarova led the 2017 Tennessee Wesleyan program to its first-ever victory in the NAIA National Tournament, becoming the only unseeded team to reach the quarterfinal round. Last season’s Lady Bulldogs squad also received the program’s first-ever national ranking, reaching No. 11 in the NAIA national poll at season’s end.  

In her 12 seasons at Tennessee Wesleyan, Kolarova has coached 66 all-conference athletes and seven athletes who received the Appalachian Athletic Conference’s top soccer awards. That latter total includes two Appalachian Athletic Conference Players of the Year, two Offensive Players of the Year, a Defensive Player of the Year and two AAC Freshmen of the Year. In addition, Nicole Broderick became the first TWU athlete to be named an NAIA All-American, earning third-team honors in 2017.

Kolarova’s teams also excelled in the classroom with her program receiving the NAIA’s Scholar Team Award four times since 2012. In addition, 10 Tennessee Wesleyan soccer athletes have been named NAIA Scholar-Athletes 24 times during her tenure and 59 student-athletes have received academic all-conference honors.

A Cambridge, New Zealand native, Kolarova (nee Clarke) was a four-time National Soccer Coaches Association Division II All-American as a player. She played three seasons at Lock Haven (Pa.) where she was conference rookie of the year and ultimately scored 34 goals – still third most in that program’s history. \

Kolarova then transferred to Metropolitan State-Denver for her final season and was the conference player of the year after a 29-point (13 goals, 16 assists) campaign.

Following her collegiate career, Kolarova was a member of the New Zealand National Senior Women’s Team in 2004 and earned three caps with the Football Ferns. She also played for the United States W-League’s Mile High Mustangs in 2004.

Kolarova began her coaching career at North Alabama where she was a graduate assistant for the 2005 season while earning her master’s degree in health promotion and human performance. She also holds a bachelor’s degree from Metropolitan State-Denver in human performance and sport with an emphasis in K-12 teaching. Kolarova, who signed a four-year contract, will be joined in Clarksville by her husband Hristo and their daughter Kiriana.

“The future is extremely bright for Governors Athletics,” said Ivey. “Achieving our vision of becoming the premier athletics department in the Ohio Valley Conference is only achievable by having the right people in and around our department. I am confident Naomi and her family will provide the spark that we need to move our women’s soccer program forward.”

The Kolarova File –

Hometown: Cambridge, New Zealand
High School: St. Peter’s School

Education

  • University of North Alabama (M.A., Health Promotion and Human Performance, 2006)
  • Metropolitan State University-Denver (B.A., Human Performance & Sport, 2004)

Collegiate Coaching Experience

  • Tennessee Wesleyan, head coach, 2006-17
  • North Alabama, graduate assistant, 2005-06

Playing Career

  • Mile High Mustangs (US W-League), 2004
  • New Zealand National Senior Women’s National Team, 2004
  • Metropolitan State-Denver, 2003-04
  • Lock Haven (PA), 2000-03
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