John Klein promoted to lead women's soccer program
September 13, 2011
Columbia, Mo. - Columbia College Director of Athletics Bob Burchard officially announced today the appointment of John Klein to head women's soccer coach effective immediately. Klein will now serve as the head men's and women's soccer coach as Columbia will begin competition in women's soccer in the fall of 2012 for the first time in school history.
"It is a tremendous privilege to be entrusted with the responsibility of starting and building the women's soccer program at Columbia College," said Klein. "I want to thank Coach Burchard and Dr. Brouder for offering me this wonderful opportunity. The tradition of success in Columbia College athletics is no secret. My coaching peers at the college are some of the best in the business and they set the bar high year in and year out. I respect the challenge that has been presented to me, and I look forward to the process of recruiting the group of young women that will represent a new era in Columbia College athletics."
"We are very excited to have John Klein accept the additional responsibility of building our women's soccer program," stated Burchard. "John is considered one of the elite collegiate soccer coaches in the country. We were thrilled to learn of his interest in leading both the men's and women's teams and are confident he will build a nationally competitive program."
Klein is currently in his 12th season at the helm of the Cougar men's soccer squad and is the winningest soccer coach in Columbia College history with 139 wins to his credit. John has led Columbia to three NAIA National Championships, five regular season conference championships and been named American Midwest Conference (AMC) Coach of the Year three times. The past two seasons have been very successful for Klein and the Cougars as they have combined for a 28-11-4 record, won the conference postseason tournament both season and advanced to the NAIA National Championships, making it to the second round in 2009.
"As our men's program continues to excel, the time is right to bring women's soccer into the picture," says Klein. "I feel strongly that each of the programs will benefit significantly from each other's presence. We will continue to seek outstanding student-athletes to bring into our programs. It's an honor for me to double the number of educational and athletic opportunities that I am able to provide young men and women."
John has been very involved over the years with youth soccer in Mid-Missouri, coaching two of his own children. Klein was pivotal in the creation of the Columbia Courage, his daughter Molly's team that has now merged with another group to become the Mid-Missouri United, one of the most competitive U14 girls programs in the area.
A native of St. Louis, John played two seasons at Duke University (1983-84) before returning to complete his career at St. Louis University (1985-86). Following his collegiate career, Klein played eight years professionally and worked as a manager of warehousing for IMC Salt in Overland Park, Kan. before coming to Columbia College to serve as an assistant coach while pursuing a master's degree in business administration from the University of Missouri.
Columbia College announced the addition of women's soccer as well as men's and women's cross country and men's and women's golf in late August, essentially doubling the student-athlete population at Columbia. Klein looks forward to providing the opportunity to pursue a respected degree on the beautiful home campus of Columbia College while competing at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics to female soccer players from around the world in hopes that when they graduate they will take with them a lifetime of Columbia Cougar pride.
"The Columbia College men's soccer alumni are second to none and we fully appreciate their continued support of Columbia College and its athletic programs," stated Klein. "Five years from now I look forward to adding our first graduating class of women's soccer players to our great family of soccer alumni."
"It is a tremendous privilege to be entrusted with the responsibility of starting and building the women's soccer program at Columbia College," said Klein. "I want to thank Coach Burchard and Dr. Brouder for offering me this wonderful opportunity. The tradition of success in Columbia College athletics is no secret. My coaching peers at the college are some of the best in the business and they set the bar high year in and year out. I respect the challenge that has been presented to me, and I look forward to the process of recruiting the group of young women that will represent a new era in Columbia College athletics."
"We are very excited to have John Klein accept the additional responsibility of building our women's soccer program," stated Burchard. "John is considered one of the elite collegiate soccer coaches in the country. We were thrilled to learn of his interest in leading both the men's and women's teams and are confident he will build a nationally competitive program."
Klein is currently in his 12th season at the helm of the Cougar men's soccer squad and is the winningest soccer coach in Columbia College history with 139 wins to his credit. John has led Columbia to three NAIA National Championships, five regular season conference championships and been named American Midwest Conference (AMC) Coach of the Year three times. The past two seasons have been very successful for Klein and the Cougars as they have combined for a 28-11-4 record, won the conference postseason tournament both season and advanced to the NAIA National Championships, making it to the second round in 2009.
"As our men's program continues to excel, the time is right to bring women's soccer into the picture," says Klein. "I feel strongly that each of the programs will benefit significantly from each other's presence. We will continue to seek outstanding student-athletes to bring into our programs. It's an honor for me to double the number of educational and athletic opportunities that I am able to provide young men and women."
John has been very involved over the years with youth soccer in Mid-Missouri, coaching two of his own children. Klein was pivotal in the creation of the Columbia Courage, his daughter Molly's team that has now merged with another group to become the Mid-Missouri United, one of the most competitive U14 girls programs in the area.
A native of St. Louis, John played two seasons at Duke University (1983-84) before returning to complete his career at St. Louis University (1985-86). Following his collegiate career, Klein played eight years professionally and worked as a manager of warehousing for IMC Salt in Overland Park, Kan. before coming to Columbia College to serve as an assistant coach while pursuing a master's degree in business administration from the University of Missouri.
Columbia College announced the addition of women's soccer as well as men's and women's cross country and men's and women's golf in late August, essentially doubling the student-athlete population at Columbia. Klein looks forward to providing the opportunity to pursue a respected degree on the beautiful home campus of Columbia College while competing at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics to female soccer players from around the world in hopes that when they graduate they will take with them a lifetime of Columbia Cougar pride.
"The Columbia College men's soccer alumni are second to none and we fully appreciate their continued support of Columbia College and its athletic programs," stated Klein. "Five years from now I look forward to adding our first graduating class of women's soccer players to our great family of soccer alumni."