Kristi Kiely completed her sixth season as head coach of the Point Loma women's soccer program in 2023, leading the Sea Lions to their first-ever NCAA national championship in any sport.

In 2023, PLNU won a fourth PacWest Conference title in five seasons and set an NCAA-era program for wins (17). The team finished the season on an 11-game winning streak, which ties the program's longest winning streak. She was named the PacWest Coach of the Year for the third time.

Kiely and her coaching staff were named the United Soccer Coaches Division II Women's Staff of the Year.

During her first two seasons, Kiely led PLNU to its most successful two-year stretch at the time in the program's NCAA history. In her first season at the helm, Kiely guided PLNU to an undefeated PacWest Conference Championship (10-0-1) and to the program's first win in the NCAA West Regional. PLNU finished the year at 16-2-1. Its only losses were the first and last games of the season. The 10-match winning streak was the third-longest in school history, and the 17-match unbeaten streak matched the longest in school history.

Under Kiely's leadership, Point Loma had one of the top defenses in the entire country during the 2018 season. PLNU was 15th in save percentage (.869), fifth in goals-against average (.410) and second in shutout percentage (.737). The Sea Lions posted 14 shutouts in 19 matches and registered a streak of 812 consecutive shutout minutes.

She followed up that success with even a better 2019 campaign. Kiely led the Sea Lions to an undefeated PacWest season (9-0-2) and its second straight conference championship. PLNU upset both Cal Poly Pomona and No. 1 seed UC San Diego in the NCAA West Regional to advance to the first regional championship in program history.

During the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season, Kiely guided the Sea Lions to a perfect 4-0-0 record.

In 2021, PLNU extended its PacWest unbeaten streak to a record 34 matches. With a 9-1 conference record, the Sea Lions shared the PacWest championship with Hawaii Hilo for its third title in-a-row. Point Loma finished the season with a 13-2-2 record, reaching the NCAA Second Round.

Then in 2022, the Sea Lions reached the Second Round of the NCAA West Regional for the fourth time in four postseasons under Kiely, finishing the season with a 13-3-4 overall record (7-1-2 PacWest).

She now holds a 77-15-10 overall record with PLNU, including a 46-4-5 mark in conference play.

Many student-athletes have seen individual success under Kiely as well. Julia Glaser was named the 2018 PacWest Newcomer of the Year and PacWest Player of the Year after leading the league in goals (14) and points (31). That same season, Emma Hinson picked up PacWest Freshman of the Year and PacWest Goalkeeper of the Year honors for her work in the net. Keagan Bolibol capped off a decorated career by being named the PacWest Defender of the Year and to the D2CCAA All-America team. In 2019, Makenna Herrero earned PacWest Newcomer of the Year honors and three student-athletes were named to all-region teams. Lauren O'Malley earned a conference record three-straight PacWest Defender of the Year awards (2020-21, 2021, 2022).

Kiely originally took over the PLNU women's soccer program in January of 2018 as the third coach in program history. Kiely joined the Sea Lions after serving the previous three seasons as the head assistant coach with the University of Arkansas, where she helped lead the Razorbacks to the NCAA Tournament and the most wins in program history. Before that, she was the head coach at Westmont for five seasons, posting a record of 65-26-10. Under her guidance, the Warriors went to four straight national tournaments, including going all the way to the championship match in 2013.

Kiely has always had a reputation as a strong developer of talent. In 2016, she coached four student-athletes to All-SEC honors, and during her time at Westmont, she had 12 All-Americans. In addition, her teams also have a reputation for being excellent in the classroom, as 15 student-athletes have accumulated Academic All-Americans under her watch.

Kiely is a 2005 graduate of Westmont College. While at Westmont, she was part of three national championship teams (2001, 2002, 2003) and she left the school tied for third in assists for a career (30). She also played professionally in Sweden for one season.

Kristi and her husband, Jeremiah, have two children, Maya and Sam.  

Head Coaching Record

School

Year

Overall

Conference

Conference Finish

Postseason/Honors/Notes

Westmont

2010

7-8-3

4-5-1

7

Westmont

2011

13-6-1

6-3

3

NAIA Tournament

Westmont

2012

12-6-1

8-2

2

NAIA Tournament

Westmont

2013

17-2-5

8-0-2

2

NAIA Title Game

Westmont

2014

16-4-0

8-2

1

NAIA Tournament, GSAC Champions

Point Loma

2018

16-2-1

10-0-1

1

PacWest Champions, NCAA Second Round

Point Loma

2019

14-5-2

9-0-2

1

PacWest Champions, NCAA Third Round

Point Loma*

2020

4-0-0

3-0-0

1

*COVID year (no conference/postseason)

Point Loma

2021

13-2-2

9-1

1

PacWest Co-Champion, NCAA Second Round

Point Loma

2022

13-3-4

7-1-2

2

NCAA Second Round

Point Loma

2023

17-3-1

8-2

1

NCAA National Champions, PacWest Champions

Total

11 Seasons

142-41-20