University of Michigan hires Jennifer Klein as new head coach

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Via University of Michigan) – University of Michigan Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics Warde Manuel has announced the appointment of Jennifer Klein as the third head coach in women’s soccer program history.

Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics Warde Manuel announced today (Wednesday, Feb. 28) the appointment of Jennifer Klein as the third head coach in women’s soccer program history. Klein comes to Ann Arbor after spending the last four seasons at the University of Southern California, including the last three as USC’s associate head coach.

Klein’s target start date will be March 12. An assistant coach with the U.S. Soccer U19 women’s national team, Klein is currently with the U18 program for games in La Manga, Spain against England, Netherlands and Norway.

“I want to thank Warde Manuel, Bitsy Ritt and Lisa Savoury for this fantastic opportunity,” said Klein. “Michigan has such great academic and athletic traditions and I can’t wait to be a part of it. I am really looking forward to coaching and leading the women’s soccer program as we work to pursue excellence both on and off the field. I want to thank USC, especially my head coach, Keidane McAlpine. They have been so supportive through the process, and I wish the department and the team great success.”

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At USC Klein oversaw recruiting for a program that won the 2016 national championship. That season, the Trojans lost their first two games before an extraordinary run that saw them finish 19-4-2 and 8-2-1 in the challenging Pac-12 Conference. In her four seasons, Klein helped USC to a cumulative 71-19-9 record overall and a 31-11-2 mark in conference play.

“I am excited to welcome Jennifer to our Michigan family,” said Manuel. “She is a tremendous fit to lead our women’s soccer program. Her diverse experiences and accomplishments at the highest levels of amateur soccer are impressive, and I have no doubt that she will find success here in Ann Arbor.”

Prior to her time at USC, Klein spent two seasons as an assistant at Washington State, where the program twice advanced to the NCAA Tournament and produced the 2014 Pac-12 Player of the Year in Michaela Castain. In 2013, the Cougars tied the program records for victories with a 14-3-4 mark, as the team and players set or tied 27 school records including allowing just 11 goals.

Prior to her time in Pullman, Klein spent five seasons at UNLV including her final two as the program’s head coach as she guided the Rebels to a 19-18-4 record. At the time she was named head coach prior to the 2010 campaign, Klein was the youngest head coach in NCAA Division I women’s soccer. In Klein’s first year as head coach, the Rebels improved their win total from the previous season from five to 11 and set a program record with 38 goals scored.

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Klein’s collegiate coaching career began as a volunteer assistant at the University of Arizona, her alma mater, during the 2006 season.

In addition to her work with the U19 women’s national team, Klein worked for four years as a coach with U.S. Soccer’s LA Market Training Center, part of a national platform designed to improve player identification, player development and coach development for the national team.

Klein also brings experience with the youth soccer ranks, having coached club teams and regional Olympic Development Program teams during her tenures at UNLV and Arizona. She received her National “A” License in the summer of 2011.

Klein graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology in May of 2006. She earned her master’s degree in athletic administration at UNLV in May of 2011.

At Arizona, Klein was a four-year letterwinner from 2002-05 and was a two-time team captain. She was part of the school’s first Pac-10 championship team in 2004 and was a starter on the 2005 squad that advanced to the third round of the NCAA Championship. Klein appeared in 78 career games, starting 60 contests at midfield and outside back. She was also a member of the Arizona Heatwave in the semi-professional W-League from 2003-05.