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Dr. Kathleen Paulsen
Dr. Kathleen Paulsen enters her 11th season at the helm of the women's soccer program after being named the program's third head coach in February of 2013.
Paulsen has garnered incredible levels of success after taking the reins of the program. In 10 seasons, she has an overall mark of 149-35-15 (.786) and has boasted six NAIA All-Americans, 12 honorable mention All-Americans, 44 NAIA Scholar-Athletes, 60 All-Sooner Athletic selections and has been named the SAC Coach of the Year three times.
The 2017-18 SAC Coach of Character selection has guided the Golden Eagles to seven appearances in the NAIA National Championships (2013, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22) and took the program to six consecutive appearances in the SAC tournament title match (2013-18), grabbing five tournament championships (2013, 16, 20, 21, 22) to accompany a quartet of regular-season crowns (2016, 17, 20, 21).
Despite COVID-19 throwing the season into the unconventional spring season, Paulsen led the Golden Eagles to an undefeated 14-0-1 finish in 2020, and set program records in both win percentage (.967) and fewest losses (0) – along with piecing together the deepest run in the NAIA National Championships in program history. The Golden Eagles advanced out of the Opening Round for the second time ever, following its fourth Sooner Athletic regular season championship and third tournament titles.
The 2017 season tied the previous season's and program record 18 wins as John Brown finished 18-3-0, picking up its second-straight SAC regular season championship by posting a perfect 10-0-0 mark in conference play. Highlighted by a pair of Top-25 wins early in the season, the Golden Eagles knocked off Science & Arts at Drover Field in a 1-0 battle to claim the regular season title. JBU ran past Wayland Baptist and Oklahoma City in the SAC tournament before dropping a 2-1 decision to USAO in overtime at Alumni Field in the championship match.
The Golden Eagles posted a watershed season in 2016, where Paulsen led the squad to a record number of victories (18), overall win percentage (.881) and the first-ever undefeated season in both the Sooner Athletic (9-0-0) and at Alumni Field (13-0-0) in program history. Additionally, JBU made an appearance in its fourth-consecutive SAC tournament championship appearance, earning its second title in four seasons with a 2-0 win over Science & Arts in front of the faithful at Alumni Field.
In 2015, John Brown made its third-consecutive appearance in the Sooner Athletic tournament title game. Despite falling to Science & Arts (Okla.) in penalty kicks, the Golden Eagles finished the season with a 13-6-2 mark and finished in second place in the SAC regular season table.
In 2013, John Brown completed the campaign with the second-most victories in program history (14) and sported a 1-2-1 mark against NAIA top-25 competition. JBU's penalty-kick win over Oklahoma City in the SAC tournament finals ended a six-year winless drought against the Stars, and ensured the program's third-ever appearance in the NAIA National Championships. The Golden Eagles would eventually fall 2-0 at No. 4 Concordia (Calif.) in the Opening Round. John Brown finished the season with a No. 22 national ranking.
Paulsen comes to JBU accompanied with NCAA I soccer experience as a four-year letterwinner with the Lady Razorbacks. During her time in Fayetteville, Paulsen made an appearance in all 77 games UA played, starting an impressive 59 times. She finished her career with eight goals scored on 97 shots and two assists, totaling 20 points. While a student-athlete, Paulsen was a member and representative of the UA Student Athlete Advisory Committee while earning Southeastern Conference and Arkansas academic honor roll accolades. She was also named to the SEC's Good Works Team as a senior in 2009 and after her senior campaign in 2010, she was selected for the prestigious Brandon Burlsworth Award, awarded annually to one male and one female student-athlete at the University of Arkansas, which honors those who demonstrate the character, diligence to school, and good moral character that the late Brandon Burlsworth exhibited.
Paulsen continued her playing career for a year after graduation, joining the Arkansas Comets of the Women's Premier Soccer League for the 2012 season.
Paulsen joined the Arkansas women's soccer staff in the fall of 2012 as a volunteer assistant coach in addition to serving as the director of soccer operations. She oversaw areas of the program that included fitness, nutrition, recovery and logistical organization. The Lady Razorbacks finished the 2012 campaign with an overall record of 9-10-1, including upset victories over three ranked opponents in Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri. The Razorbacks would eventually fall in the first round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, losing 3-2 in extra time to South Carolina.
After her graduation in 2010, Paulsen earned a graduate assistant position and worked with the Academic Services wing of the Arkansas athletic department, tracking student-athlete's academic progress and eligibility, ensuring compliance with NCAA regulations.
Paulsen is no stranger to Siloam Springs, having served as a volunteer assistant soccer coach for the Golden Eagles during the 2011 season under her predecessor, Scott Marksberry, as John Brown posted an 8-8-2 overall record. Paulsen became intimately familiar with the program as she assisted in coaching duties on game day in addition to structuring team and goalkeeper training over the course of the season.
During the summers of 2010 and 2011, Paulsen spent her time in Rogers, Ark., as a manager and counselor at Camp War Eagle, a Christian sports, adventure and recreation camp. There, she oversaw counselors by ensuring policies and procedures were followed while organizing and scheduling camp staff for various events.
A native of Littleton, Colo., Paulsen graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor of Arts in biology. In 2012, she completed a Master of Science in kinesiology with an emphasis in exercise physiology. She also holds an Advanced National Diploma and a Level 2 goalkeeping certification from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) and a National "D" License from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).
Paulsen currently resides in Fayetteville and completed her Ph.D. in health, sport and exercise science, with a concentration in exercise science in the spring of 2020. The dissertation covered the use of technology (heart rate and GPS) in sports performance and creating tools for talent identification.
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