The Southern Utah University athletic department and Director of Athletics Debbie Corum announced the hiring of Kai Edwards as the new head coach of the Thunderbird women's soccer program on December 9, 2019.

Coach Edwards made an immediate impact upon his arrival at SUU. In his first three seasons Edwards raised the soccer program to new heights and has established a winning culture in Cedar City.

Coach Edwards in the Media

https://x.com/fitsoccerqueen/status/1776199272557388050?s=46&t=QpUT2KN8Zl6CmgMgeggP0A

https://youtu.be/WhU16InRapg

https://x.com/srusa_official/status/1768371836427886642?s=46&t=fZ3Y2hZu-8fu7xVOplWpQQ https://twitter.com/SRUSA_Official/status/1768371836427886642

https://www.hudl.com/blog/video-analysis-made-easy-with-southern-utah-womens-soccer

Webinar: The Future of Coaching: Finding the Balance Between Tech and Human

Soccer Coach Weekly: Kai Edwards - 'A humbling helped me be more human'

Sportzz Special: SUU Coach Kai Edwards on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com › podcast › sportzz-special-s...

Contacts Coaching Podcast: Kai Edwards - Head Women's Soccer ...https://podcasts.apple.com › podcast › kai-edwards-hea...

Kai Edwards Joins The BOCA Podcast - Southern Utah University ...https://suutbirds.com › news › 2022/11/10 › womens-s...

Season 3: Episode 18 Kai Edwards, @KaiEdwards13https://poddtoppen.se › podcast › season-3-episode-18-...

Episode 113: Kai Edwards Addresses One of the ... - Podcast Addicthttps://www.podcastaddict.com › episode

SC020 Kai Edwards - Buzzsprouthttps://www.buzzsprout.com › 584763-sc020-kai-edwards

Season 3: Episode 18 Kai Edwards, @KaiEdwards13 – "On the ...https://podtail.com › podcast › season...

Success Under Edwards

Edwards led Southern Utah to its most successful season of all time in 2022. The Thunderbirds set records in total wins (9), most consecutive wins (5), total goals scored (31), highest scoring average (1.76), and most shutouts in a season (8). Whitney Wangsgard was named to the WAC All-Freshman team, the first freshman to be honored since 2011. SUU ended the season with its highest finish in conference play since 2014. Southern Utah would finish with a historic 9-6-2 record.

Southern Utah fought hard in Edwards second season with the program in 2021. The T-Birds compiled two shutouts on the road, as well as amassing two ties away from Cedar City. The Thunderbirds earned the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award for their exceptional work in the classroom. Southern Utah ended the season with a 2-13-2 overall record.

The 2020-21 season was Edwards first campaign as head coach of the Thunderbirds. Southern Utah clinched a 5-3-1 record, which was the program's best finish since 2007 and the highest winning percentage in SUU soccer history (.611). The Thunderbirds ended the season on a four game win streak. The squad was honored with the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award. Under Edwards’ leadership, Kate Schirmer tied SUU’s record for total goals in a single season with eight.

Prior to SUU

Edwards comes to Cedar City from Berkeley, California where he spent the 2019 season as a volunteer assistant coach for the California Golden Bears. Edwards helped the Bears to an overall record of 13-5-3 and helped develop five All-Region selections. During the 2018 season, Edwards was an assistant coach and the director of recruiting at the University of Michigan, where he helped cultivate several All-Big Ten and All-Freshman selections.

Prior to his time at Michigan, Edwards spent two years in Arizona, working as a special assistant to the head coach at Arizona State and girls coaching director for the Sereno Soccer Club.

Edwards brings in six years of Division I head coaching experience from his time at Saint Mary's College of California where he was the head coach of their women's soccer program from 2009-14. The Gaels were ranked in the top-10 in their region in four of Edwards' six seasons in Moraga, during which he led the Gaels to seven top-25 wins. During his tenure in Moraga, Edwards helped develop 21 All-WCC honorees, including members of the Canadian and New Zealand Youth National Teams.

Edwards is also a US Soccer Talent ID Scout within the West Region that covers Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and New Mexico. US Soccer Training Center Staff for the State of Utah and the west Region, helping to identify and develop top players with youth national team potential.

Edwards got his start in collegiate coaching at Western Washington University, serving as an assistant coach and head of recruiting for the 2004 and 2005 seasons. After two seasons in Washington, Edwards returned to his alma mater Sonoma State and helped the Seawolves earn a sixth-place ranking in the region. From there, he spent three seasons as an assistant and later associate head coach at UC Santa Barbara, helping the Gauchos win the Big West Conference Tournament in 2008 and make the program's first NCAA Tournament appearance in over a decade.

"I want to thank Athletic Director Debbie Corum and Senior Women's Administrator Sonia Hahn, along with the rest of the Southern Utah University community for entrusting me to guide the Thunderbirds. When I stepped on campus and saw the facilities, mountain setting, learned about the university, and met the people, I knew this would be a good fit for me and my wife," Edwards said. "I am excited to help grow, mentor and develop this team and program. Having recruited in Utah for years and with many ties to club and high school coaches in the state, I look forward to connecting with existing associates as well as building new relationships. I would also like to thank my colleagues and mentors Neil McGuire, Greg Ryan, Kevin Boyd, Jerry Smith, and Kari Montero for their support and guidance over the years. I cannot wait to get started."

Praise For Coach

"During the interview process, it became obvious that Kai cares deeply about two things: developing the student-athlete competitively and providing a positive experience for his team," SUU Director of Athletics Debbie Corum said. "These are among the core values for SUU Athletics so we believe that this will be a great fit for our women's soccer program."

"Kai is a great hire for Southern Utah. He has a great soccer mind and is one of the hardest workers in the business. He is a great recruiter and is always working to improve his own knowledge of the game. Kai understands the balance between academics and athletics and will ensure that the student-athletes have a great experience," said Kari Montero, Associate Athletic Director for Academic Support at Saint Mary's College of California.

"In Coach Edwards, Southern Utah is getting both an exceptional coach and person. He has a deep knowledge of the game, is an excellent teacher, and his passion for the sport will prove inspirational for the players," said Neil McGuire, head women's soccer coach at UC Berkeley.

"I have coached with and against Kai Edwards for nearly 20 years. Coach Edwards is very passionate about coaching, and is a very good communicator and teacher of the game. His teams have always been tactically aware, very organized, and play with a wonderful team spirit. His ability to prioritize his training topics and get the best out of his players, individually and as a group, is first class," said Jerry Smith, head women's soccer coach at Santa Clara University. "Additionally, Coach Edwards is a great evaluator of potential talent, and is an outstanding recruiter. His contacts and reputation across the country with the top club teams will allow him access to a huge pool of talented players. Suffice it to say that Southern Utah University has made a fantastic hire with Coach Kai Edwards."

"Kai has been shaped by working with some of the best coaches and players during his many years of service to the game. He also has a passion for the tactics that will allow him to grow the Southern Utah program. His commitment to and engagement with his players will provide the women a space to thrive as players and people. Congratulations to Kai and Southern Utah," said Keidane McAlpine, head women's soccer coach at USC.

"Congratulations to Southern Utah University on the hiring of Kai Edwards. With his extensive experience and knowledge of the college and youth landscape, he is sure to make an immediate and positive impact," said Brandi Chastain, two-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion.

Personal Life

Edwards earned his Bachelor's Degree in American Multi-Cultural Studies from Sonoma State in 2003, where he played two seasons and led the Seawolves to the NCAA Division II national championship in 2002. He also received a Master's Degree in Recreation and Sport Science from Ohio University in 2020.