Katherine Lopez joins York College in 2022-23 as assistant women’s soccer coach.

"I am excited to be part of the team. I look forward to challenging myself and every single student-athlete to practice hard and never stop learning.  Failure is part of success.  Keep going to the next level.”-said Lopez

A former soccer player in Colombia as a defender, Lopez played on scholarship at Escuela Nacional del Deporte from 2003-08. She graduated from university with a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Sciences. 

Since graduating, the Colombian has been a part of coaching staffs in notorious academies and club teams. She worked at Carlos Oliveira Soccer Academy from 2010-2014, briefly coached U10 Girls for Downtown United Soccer Club (DUSC) and the U5-U8 age group at Manhattan Soccer Club (MSC), and was the head coach for the U5-U10 coed sector of Red Bulls Academy from Sept. 2014-Sept. 2015. Moving onto the Manhattan Kickers Soccer Club, Lopez trained various older age-level travel teams from Dec. 2015-2021. She then transitioned to being the head coach of the U14 Girls Travel Team for Queens United Soccer Club until 2022. 

In addition to coaching at soccer clubs, Lopez has worked as an instructor at private schools and other communities in various fields. Part of the YMCA staff from 2011-2013, she performed instructor roles in tennis and soccer. Employed at The School at Columbia University (TSC) from Feb. 2013-Feb. 2015, she oversaw recess and soccer, and was an assistant Spanish teacher in the after-school program. Since 2018, the Colombian has been a physical education teacher at Forte Preparatory Academy in Queens.  

Adding onto her leadership positions, Lopez has completed several certifications that speak to her qualities. On the pitch, she received a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) D National Coaching License in 2020, a course that emphasized coaching training sessions. In 2021, Lopez got certified in 9v9 and 11v11 work. Away from coaching, she has training in dealing with child abuse and certifications in first aid and CPR.

Lopez currently resides in Fresh Meadows, New York.