Coaches

Kara Lail

Kara Lail joined CIU in July 2014 as the school's first-ever women's soccer coach. Lail is currently the longest-tenured head coach at CIU, as the 2023 season will be her ninth season in program history.


Since Lail's first season at CIU in 2015, she has led her team to four NCCAA National Tournaments, four NCCAA South Region tournaments, and two Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) tournaments.


2022 saw the Rams win their first-ever AAC tournament game as they defeated Bryan College (Tenn.) 1-0 on November 1. Following the 2022 season, Rams' forward Mercy Berkemeyer was named an AAC All-Conference performer. To cap off the year, Lail was selected as the NISOA Frank Jewell Award winner. This award is given annually to an NCCAA coach whose reputation is recognized by soccer officials as praiseworthy and reflective of the highest standards of professional and ethical behavior.


Another notable accomplishment on Lail's resume includes being named the 2020 NCCAA South Region Coach of the Year after her team bounced back from a sub .500 year in 2019 to finish 2020 at 7-6-1. Lail has coached two NCCAA All-Americans during her time with the Rams and has more NCCAA Scholar-Athletes in her program history than any other athletic team at CIU.


A native of Rochester, N.Y., Lail came to CIU after serving as the women's assistant soccer coach at Colorado Christian University (CCU). While at CCU, she helped lead the Cougars to the NCCAA Regional Tournament and played an integral role in developing players who were honored with conference and regional awards in NCAA Division II and the NCCAA. Lail also served as a coach's mentor at Broomfield Soccer Club, helping with coach and player development.


Prior to her two-year stint at CCU, Lail spent her collegiate career at Roberts Wesleyan College. While at Roberts, Lail was named to the All-American Mideast Conference Team all four years in addition to being named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Region Team. She was also recognized as the Champion of Character Award Winner in 2011 and served as the team chaplain for two years and team captain for one.


In addition to her soccer career, Lail competed in indoor track and led Roberts' women's lacrosse team during their inaugural season. Lail also served for two summers with the Chicago Eagles, a part of Missionary Athletes International, where she was trained in sports ministry and shared the gospel through soccer camps throughout Chicago and also in Brazil.


Lail currently holds a 65-72-17 record as the only coach in CIU women's soccer history.


Lail completed her Master's of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from Colorado Christian University and her Bachelor's of Science in Elementary and Special Education from Roberts Wesleyan. She currently holds her USSF National C Soccer Coaching License and was named to the 2018-2019 United Soccer Coaches 30 under 30 class.


Formerly, Kara Farnsworth, Lail married CIU's Head Athletic Trainer Ryan Lail in the summer of 2020, and the two reside in Columbia with their sons Austin and Parker.

Nate Rhine

Alli Edens

Assistant Coach

Bill Brindley

Bill Brindley was hired in February of 2017 as the second head men's soccer coach in CIU history. The 2023 season will be his seventh leading the Rams and 11th year as a collegiate head coach.


Since taking over in 2017, Brindley has led CIU to an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Regular-Season Championship (2021), an AAC Tournament Championship, four AAC postseason tournaments, three NCCAA Division I National Championship Tournaments, and two NAIA National Championship Tournaments.


The Rams won their first NCCAA Division I Men's Soccer National Championship in 2022.


Under Brindley's leadership, CIU has had nine NCCAA Division I All-Americans and four NAIA All-American honorable mentions. In addition to these honors, in 2019, CIU was awarded its second Kyle Rote Jr. award winner in Doran Batterman. The NCCAA gives this national award to a player who shows outstanding leadership and character.


The 2022 season was one of CIU's best in the existence of the program, as the Rams won both the AAC Tournament Championship and NCCAA Division I National Championship Tournament. Brindley was named the 2022 NCCAA National Coach of the Year as the Rams finished the season with a 15-4-5 overall record and a 9-2-2 record in the conference.


Brindley's program saw unparalleled success in 2021 as CIU went 19-4 overall and secured their first-ever AAC regular-season championship and a bid to the NAIA National Championship Tournament. The Rams hauled in the individual accolades as they were awarded AAC Offensive (Romulo Barreto), Defensive (Rafael Carneiro), and Freshman (Igor Eduardo) Player of the Year awards. On top of player awards, Brindley was named the 2021 AAC Men's Soccer Coach of the Year.


CIU ended the 2021 season ranked in the NAIA Top 25 Poll for the first time in program history as the Rams were slotted as the No. 17 team in the country.


Brindley holds a 64-46-7 record at the helm for the Rams and a career record of 108-63-7. On top of his coaching duties, Brindley is CIU's intramural director and currently serves as the Region Chair for the NCCAA South Region.


As a player, Coach Brindley played at both the intercollegiate and professional levels. Brindley had an outstanding career at Tennesee Temple University and NCAA Division II Palm Beach Atlantic University (Fla.). After graduating in 2006, Brindley signed and played for the United Soccer League's (USL) Real Maryland Monarch in 2009. He would continue his USL career with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds until 2011.


Brindley would step away from the pros in 2011 to pursue a career in coaching as he was named the head men's soccer coach at Trinity Baptist College (Fla.) in Jacksonville. At Trinity, Coach Brindley led his team to three regional championships and two NCCAA Division II National Championships. Brindley also coached ten NCCAA All-Americans during his time at Trinity. In 2015 he was named the NCCAA Division II Coach of the Year.


Brindley holds a bachelor's degree from Palm Beach Atlantic (Fla.) and an MBA from CIU. He currently resides in Columbia, S.C., with his wife Kelly and his four children, Theo, Sawyer, Wilder, and Olive.

Nate Rhine

Assistant Coach