Virginia Commonwealth University

VCU Athletics - Siegel Center
1200 W. Broad St / PO Box 843013 Richmond, VA 232843013

Division 1 Virginia Northeast

Public Very Large National competitor

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Lindsey Martin

Lindsey Martin enters her 11th season at the helm of the VCU Women’s soccer program in 2023 after taking the position on May 30, 2013. The Virginia native is the sixth head coach in the 28-year history of the program and has proven to be one of the top young coaches in the nation.

Martin was named the 2021 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year after the Rams won the A-10 regular season championship with a 13-4-0 overall record and a 9-1-0 mark in conference play, VCU's first conference crown since joining the league in 2012. VCU also tied a program record with nine straight wins from Sept. 19-Oct. 21.

Martin’s teams have earned an overall record of 90-56-20 including a 49-24-11 mark in conference play. The Rams showed improvement right away under Martin, going .500 in her first season and then quickly jumping to a .625 winning percentage in her second season.

VCU has tallied at least seven wins in every season with Martin leading the way, including in 2019 when the Rams posted a 9-6-3 overall record. In 2018, VCU Women's Soccer had its best season in program history. The Rams set a new school record for wins with a 16-4 overall record and a 9-1 record against Atlantic 10 competition en route to a No. 2 seed in the A-10 Tournament and a run to the 2018 conference championship game.

In the three seasons before that, Martin made positive strides with the program, leading the Rams to at least six conference victories twice and posting an impressive 11-win season in 2017.

Under Martin, the Rams have earned 27 All-Atlantic 10 honors. These honors include 10 First Team, 14 Second Team and three All-Rookie Team honorees. In addition, the program has had eight All-Academic Team member selection sunder Martin’s direction. Lana Golob and Emma Kershner were named the A-10 Defender and Midfielder of the Year, respectively, after a historic 2021 campaign.

Seven players have also appeared on the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) All-State teams while seven more have made United Soccer Coaches All-East Region teams.

The frequency at which the Rams have placed freshmen on the A-10 All-Rookie Team speak to the excellent recruiting Martin and her staff have done over the last six years. Lana Golob, Lyndsey Gutzmer and Megan Dell each made the list under Martin.

"Lindsey was the clear choice as the best fit here at VCU," Director of Athletics Ed McLaughlin said. "She is a proven winner, both as a player and a coach. We are extremely excited about the future of our women's soccer program with Lindsey leading us to our goal of winning championships.”

Prior to her arrival at VCU, Martin spent two seasons as the head coach at Georgia Southern, where she guided the Eagles to their first Southern Conference Tournament title and an NCAA appearance.

During her two years in Statesboro, Ga., she accumulated a 17-19-7 record while rebuilding the Eagles from the bottom of the conference prior to her arrival to the program. The Eagles achieved more wins in Martin's first year than they had the previous two years combined. Prior to her time at GSU, she spent four seasons as an assistant at Hofstra, during which the program made two NCAA Tournament appearances and won a CAA Tournament championship and a regular season crown.

In addition to her success on the sidelines, Martin achieved success on the pitch as a player. She was a four-year standout at William & Mary, where she earned All-CAA First Team honors all four years, highlighted by being named the CAA Player of the Year in 2002, CAA Tournament MVP in 2001 and the CAA Rookie of the Year in 2000. She was the first player in conference history to achieve such a feat.

She was also named to the CAA's 25th Anniversary Women's Soccer team. All of her accolades came full circle in April of 2016, as she was inducted into the William & Mary Hall of Fame.

The Virginia native grew up in Chesapeake, VA, where she was a standout at Hickory High School. In June of 2015, she married Adam Martin and they have one daughter.

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Kelly Keelan

Kelly Keelan joined VCU Women's Soccer as an assistant coach ahead of the 2022 season.

“We are thrilled to have KK join our staff ahead of the 2022 season,” head coach Lindsey Martin said. “KK is a big-time addition for our program. She comes from a strong playing and coaching background, having coached on Darren Ambrose’s staff at Penn and Vanderbilt for a decade. She knows her stuff and will be able to jump right in and help lead our team.”

Keelan has over a decade of coaching experience at the Division I level, including the past seven years as an assistant coach at Vanderbilt. She helped guide the Commodores to SEC trophies in three consecutive seasons from 2018-20, claiming the 2018 SEC regular season crown, the 2019 SEC East title, and the 2020 SEC Tournament championship.

Vanderbilt won 78 games under the tutelage of Keelan, including over a dozen wins over ranked opponents. With a focus on coaching the Commodores’ goalkeepers and attack, Keelan tutored players like two-time All-American Haley Hopkins and standout goalie Sarah Fuller.

Prior to her time at Vanderbilt, Keelan spent the 2014 season as an assistant coach at Georgetown, guiding the Hoyas to the Big East championship game and the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Goalkeeper Emma Newins was named All-Region and Second Team All-Big East after posting nine shutouts and a 1.19 goals-against average.

Keelan spent 2012 and 2013 as an assistant coach at Penn, where the Quakers recorded back-to-back winning seasons, including a 12-1-4 campaign in 2013. That season set a program record for fewest losses in a season, and Penn shut out 12 of its 17 opponents.

The Broomall, Pa., product started her coaching career with two seasons as an assistant coach at Ohio, where the Bobcats tied program records for fewest goals allowed (21) and shutouts (6) in 2010.

Keelan had a remarkable four-year playing career at George Mason, playing both goalkeeper and forward. As a junior in 2008, the All-Colonial Athletic Association selection and team captain led the Patriots in goals, points, saves, and shutouts. In 71 career games, including 40 starts, Keelan collected 21 goals, 11 assists, 58 saves, and a 1.39 goals-against average.

In addition to her career at GMU, Keelan also played with the Philadelphia Liberty of the WPSL (Women’s Premier Soccer League) and was a keeper in England’s U-19 National Pool in 2006. She also played for the Philadelphia Charge, a WUSA youth team, and on the West Chester United club team for seven years.

Keelan holds an NSCAA Premier National Coaching License and an NSCAA Goalkeeping Coaching License. She completed her bachelor’s degree in Health, Fitness and Recreation Management in May 2010 at George Mason, and then earned a Master’s of Science degree in coaching education at Ohio.

Virginia Commonwealth University

Coaches

Lindsey Martin

Kelly Keelan

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