Xavier University Women's Soccer

Xavier Athletics announced the promotion of Katy Etelman to head coach of Xavier women's soccer on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026. Etelman, the 10th head coach in pr...

Xavier women's soccer head coach Katy Etelman announced the addition of Cory Herchenroeder as associate head coach for Xavier women's soccer in March 2026. H...

Xavier women’s soccer head coach Dean Ward announced the addition of Katie Smith as an assistant coach in February 2025. Smith came to Xavier from Pittsburg State in Pittsburg, Kansas, where she was a foundational piece to the creation of the women’s soccer program. In the team’s inaugural season, Smith helped lead the Gorillas to an overall record of 8-8-2. Smith has also served as head coach of the newly founded Marshall Islands Women’s National Team since May 2024, with the team set to have its first fixture in 2025. Smith joined Pittsburg State from Arkansas State, where was an assistant coach for the Red Wolves in 2023. Prior to her time at Arkansas State, Smith served as an assistant coach at Northwest Mississippi Community College during the 2022 season, helping lead the program to a final four appearance at the NJCAA national tournament. In 2022, Smith also coached Collierville High School, with the team finishing the season ranked third in the state of Tennessee, and at the men’s USL 2 level with Tri-Cities FC, helping lead the team to the most points in a single season in club history. Smith began her coaching career leading both the boy’s and girls’ varsity soccer programs at Fayette Academy in Tennessee. During her time at Fayette Academy, she led the girls’ varsity team to one of the most successful seasons in the program’s history. Smith also coached Collierville Middle School boys’ soccer, leading the Dragons to regional and sectional championships and finishin

Kristin Janes was hired as an Athletic Academic Specialist in the Student-Athlete Academic Support Services office in October of 2022. She was promoted to Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Academic Support Services in January of 2025. Prior to her arrival at Xavier, Janes was the Head Softball Coach at NCAA Division II Ferris State University from 2017-22. She was responsible for all aspects of the Bulldog softball program, excelling both in the classroom and on the field. During her tenure, Janes produced 69 GLIAC All-Academic Award winners, 47 NFCA All-Academic Award winners and two All-American Academic Award winners. In 2022, the Bulldogs achieved the eighth highest team GPA in Division II Softball, as well as 18 Bulldogs earning NFCA Academic All-American status, the most across all of NCAA Division II. She also produced 15 All-GLIAC award winners, two NFCA All-Region Award winners, three All-District winners, one NFCA National Pitcher of the Week and seven GLIAC Player of the Week honorees. In 2022, the Bulldogs achieved the first postseason win since 2016 and climbed from eighth to fourth in the GLIAC standings. Before Ferris State, Janes made two coaching stops in the State of Kansas. From 2012-17, Janes was at the helm of the Greyhound softball program at Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College. She turned around a winless team the season before her arrival, to a well-respected and competitive squad in the highly regarded Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference.

Matt Jennings was hired in 2007 as a member of the athletics strength and conditioning staff. He was promoted to Assistant Athletics Director for Strength and Conditioning in April of 2021. Jennings oversees the strength and conditioning for all of Xavier's 19 NCAA Division I teams. Jennings’ previous experience includes time as a strength coach at Wake Forest University, the University of South Carolina and High Point University in addition to a graduate assistant position at the University of Tennessee and an internship with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He came to Xavier from High Point University, where he had been the head strength and conditioning coach since June of 2007. Jennings, who was born in Winston-Salem, N.C., received a bachelor of arts degree in physical education and exercise sports science from North Carolina in 1996. Jennings also was a two-year member of the Tar Heel football team. Jennings completed a master’s degree in sport administration from Tennessee in 1998. He is a member of the CSCCA (Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association) and holds the certification of MSCC (Master Strength and Conditioning Coach). Jennings and his wife, Jill, are the proud parents of three children, Delaney, Zachary and Jacob. Highlights of Coach Jennings' career include: Coaching High Point University 2007-2009 Inaugural Head Strength & Conditioning Coach / 16 Big South Conference Teams University of South Carolina 2004-2007 Assistant Strength & Conditioni