Annie Gerdes returned to Knox in the summer of 2023 to lead the Prairie Fire women's soccer program. She previously served as an assistant coach in the program from 2019-2022.

Gerdes joined the women's soccer staff in the summer of 2019 after her career as a goalkeeper for the Prairie Fire. Gerdes played on the '16, '17, and '18 MWC championship teams and assisted in leading the 2019 and 2021 teams to MWC Titles. 

In her time as an assistant coach, Gerdes helped coach the women's soccer team to their fourth and fifth straight Midwest Conference Regular Season Championships. She also coached goalkeepers for the men's team.

Gerdes was a member of the 2016 women's soccer team that was inducted into the Knox-Lombard Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022. That team kicked off a run of five dominant years by the program.

In 2022, Gerdes served as a Youth Camp Coach for the Chicago Red Stars and a Youth Head Coach for the Galaxy Soccer Club in Naperville.

During COVID, Gerdes stepped up as the Men's Goalkeeper Coach and was promoted officially by Coach O'Connor in May of 2020. Gerdes was also named Associate Sports Information Director in October 2020 after a year as the Assistant Sports Information Director. 

Gerdes was a three-year Prairie Fire athlete. She was a member of the 3-time MWC Championship team and made two appearances in the NCAA Championship tournament. 

Gerdes works with a non-profit organization outside of Knox College called ForeverU. ForeverU is a youth development organization that empowers youth to overcome adversity.

Gerdes earned her B.S. in Psychology from Knox in June of 2019. She earned her M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Adler University in June of 2023. Gerdes also earned her NSCAA Goalkeeper 1 Diploma, United Soccer Coaches Sports Psychology and Individual Mental Skills Diploma, and USSF 11v11 Grassroots License.  She is also a nationally certified counselor.