Coaches

Drew Fitzgerald

The Cowgirls are led by head coach Drew Fitzgerald who is in his eighth season at the helm in 2023. Fitzgerald has posted a 66-52-11 record in seven seasons at the helm, including six conference tournament appearances.


As head coach of the Cowgirls, he has guided the Cowgirls to three SLC Tournament semifinal appearances (2021, 2019, 2016), has coached 25 All-Southland Conference selections, 16 SLC All-Academic selections, a CoSIDA Academic All-American, two United Soccer Coaches All-South Region Team selections, two United Soccer Coaches All-Midwest Region Team selections, two United Soccer Scholar All-Region players, five SLC All-Tournament selections, an SLC Player of the Year, SLC Goalie of the Year and an SLC Defender of the Year. The program has been honored for its scholastic efforts, earning the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award every season under Fitzgerald.


Under his tutelage in 2022, the Cowgirls recorded a 5-9-4 record while making an SLC Tournament appearance for the 18th time in program history and sixth time under Fitzgerald. He saw one player named to the All-SLC team in Kiana Kukaua as she earned a spot on the second team.


In 2021, Fitzgerald led the Cowgirls to a program tying 13 wins, a record set by Fitzgerald and Co. in 2018. The 13 wins also represent the fourth straight double-digit win total under Fitzgerald, excluding the shortened 2021 Spring season/Covid year.


In 2018, the program set a new record for most wins in a season (13), including a victory over SEC Power, Arkansas. The 2017 campaign tied the previous all-time record of 12 wins as the Cowgirls earned a 12-5-2 record, marking the first time in program history the Cowgirls earned eight conference victories on the way to breaking numerous school records and finishing runner-up in the SLC.


The 2017 campaign followed up a strong inaugural season for Fitzgerald’s Cowgirls where the team won a Southland Conference tournament match for the first time since 2008. The squad finished 6th after being tabbed to finish 11th and earned numerous postseason awards. The team wrapped up the season with three All- SLC selections, one SLC All-Tournament team selection and two SLC All-Academic Honors.


Fitzgerald returned to Lake Charles in 2014 and was a key factor in helping revamp a program that had scored one conference victory a season prior to his arrival. Under his guidance, McNeese tallied six league wins for a fourth place finish that helped propel them to an appearance in the 2014 Southland Conference Tournament.


In four seasons at Missouri State, Fitzgerald helped lead the Bears to multiple Missouri Valley Conference Tournament appearances as well as developed the program’s first professional draftee, Nia Williams, who was selected by FC Kansas City in the fourth round of the 2012 NWSL draft.


In his first season with the Bears, he helped the program to a 12-5-2 overall record and a second-place finish and a MVC Tournament finals appearance. Along the way, he assisted for a team that went unbeaten in 11-straight matches, had a seven-match win streak and won four-straight 1-0 shutouts, all firsts in team history.


Fitzgerald began his career at McNeese spending four years (2005-2008) as an assistant coach under then head coach Scooter Savoie. During his previous tenure, Fitzgerald helped McNeese to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2006 and a Southland Conference Championship in 2007. He also aided the team in reaching the Southland Conference Tournament finals in 2008. Fitzgerald helped develop the program's first McNeese Hall of Famer, Kamryn Koch who became the all-time leading scorer as well as being named 2008 Louisiana and Southland Conference Player of the Year. She was also recognized as an NSCAA/Adidas Scholar Team member.


Fitzgerald began his career as the head coach of the Texas A&M men’s club soccer team before landing at McNeese. As head coach of A&M’s club team from 2004 until 2005, he led them to the NIRSA National Championship and an undefeated season in his second year at the helm.


Fitzgerald earned a B.S. Degree in Journalism (2001) and his masters in Sport Management (2005) from Texas A&M. He also received his NSCAA National Diploma, Goalkeeper I & II diploma and the USSF National “D” License.

Molly Kuhbacher

Molly Kuhbacher was promoted to assistant coach for the 2022 season after spending five months as the Cowgirls Director of Game Operations. She helped the team to five victories in her initial season in the role.


Kuhbacher, the native of Gillette, is a four-year letter winner at Wyoming earned her undergraduate degree in Business Marketing with a minor in Marketing Communications in 2021.


During her playing days at Wyoming, Kuhbacher was a member of the 2018 Mountain West regular season championship team, served as team captain for two years and earned Scholar Athlete honors.


Following her collegiate career, Kuhbacher signed with second division Hungarian professional club, Újpest FC in Budapest, Hungary. The team went 10-0-2 with Kuhbacher making seven starts.


Kuhbacher attended Campbell County High School where she earned all-state honors three years and helped her team to the state championship in 2017.

Juan Yepes

Juan Yepes joined the Cowgirls at the beginning of the 2023 season as an assistant coach.


Yepes comes from FC Carmen Bucuresti where he served as an assistant and goalkeeper coach for the first division club. He helped the club to finish third in the standings with a 9-2-0 record.


Prior to the 2022-23 season, he accumulated a wealth of experience at various levels. Yepes was the goalkeeper program director for the Under 16 and Under 10 girls' programs at the Dynamo Dash Youth Soccer Club in Beaumont. He led the way in player development and helped evaluate player performances.


During the 2021 campaign, he was a part of the Northwestern State soccer program that won the Southland Conference Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. He coached the SLC Goalkeeper of the Year and the MVP of the tournament. His guidance led the team to ranking second nationally in shutouts.


Before joining the Northwestern State staff, he spent the 2020-21 season with South Carolina State. In 2019, he worked at SC Marítimo, St. Peter's University, and Central Florida Panthers Soccer Club. He worked at several clubs prior as well.


Fitzgerald commented, "Due to Juan's vast experience, he has performed every aspect of the job at some point in his career, which will allow him to hit the ground running for us. He has a love of the game and a depth of knowledge and experience that will make both our players and coaches better, and we feel blessed to be able to add him to our staff."


Yepes graduated from UNEM Costa Rica in 2005 with a degree in business. He played collegiate soccer for Club Estudiantil at Universidsd de Medellin prior. After college, he played a year at the semi-professional level at Club Gimnasio alongside several former Colombia National Team players.

No Men's Soccer Program