Emporia State University Vice President, Director of Athletics David Spafford has announced that Jane Grimley-Gunn will be the sixth head soccer coach for the Hornets. 

"I can't wait to get started with the team at Emporia State. This program has an established expectation for success, and there was a clear sense of competitiveness from the moment that I stepped on campus," said Grimley-Gunn. "The MIAA is a tough conference, but we have a strong group of returners and some exciting incoming players and prospects who are ready for the challenge."

Grimley-Gunn comes to Emporia State after two seasons as the head coach for Missouri S&T's women's soccer program. Last season the Miners had their longest unbeaten streak to start a season since 1997 and advanced to the GLVC Tournament for just the fourth time in school history. She was undefeated against MIAA competition in her two years, defeating Missouri Southern and playing Washburn to a scoreless tie. While at S&T she was a member of the United Soccer Coaches Midwest regional rankings panel.

"Coach Grimley-Gunn continued to rise through our process as she conveyed her approach to the game, culture, demeanor with our players and plan for our program moving forward," said Spafford.  "Her passion and energy, relatability to today's student athletes combined with her past experiences in Division II provides the type of overall experiences our student athletes deserve.  Excited to welcome Coach Grimley-Gunn and her family to Hornet Nation."

Prior to her time in Rolla, Grimley-Gunn was the associate head coach at her alma mater Goldey-Beacom College for four years.  She helped lead Goldey-Beacom – an NCAA Division II institution in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference – to a 48-24-4 overall record and 34-11-2 mark in conference play during those four seasons.

The Lightning won at least 10 games in each of her four years on staff, including a 15-win season in 2018, and reached the semifinals of the CACC Tournament in three of the four seasons.  She coached Jenna Fannon, the CACC's Player of the Year and NCAA Division II's top goal scorer in the 2019 campaign as well as two players named as the conference's "Rookie of the Year" and one named as the top defensive player in that league. In 2019, Grimley-Gunn was a recipient of the "30 Under 30" award by the United Soccer Coaches.  

Besides her duties on the Goldey-Beacom staff, Grimley-Gunn worked with Sporting Delaware as a head coach. She worked with youth club programs in Delaware and led the Under-16 team to the fourth-most wins in the Mid-Atlantic region during the 2021 fall season.  She has also worked with the Olympic Development Program in Delaware and as a staff coach with the Philadelphia Union youth program.

Grimley was a four-year player at Goldey-Beacom and appeared in 65 career games. She scored 10 goals – three of which were game-winners – and six assists for 26 points in her career.  She was a member of the conference's Academic Honor Roll.