Avila University

Avila University Eagles Athletics
 11901 Wornall Road Kansas City, MO 64145
NAIA Missouri Midwest
Private Small National competitor
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Coaches

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Katie LaForge

Katie (Kelly) LaForge is entering her seventh season as the head coach at Avila in 2024-25. LaForge's sixth season in charge in 2023-24 saw the Eagles finish the season at 6-6-1 in the KCAC with a quarterfinal appearance in the conference tournament, where they fell to eventual champion Oklahoma Wesleyan. The Eagles had four players earn Honorable Mention All-KCAC recognition in 2023-24: senior forward Megan Nugent, senior defender Amaris Sigler, sophomore goalkeeper Olivia Seston and freshman defender Hope Hines.


LaForge has increased Avila's win total in each of the last three seasons.


In LaForge's first season at the helm, she led the women's soccer team to its first conference tournament berth since 2013 and posted the most wins in a season since 2014.


LaForge joined Avila following a successful stint as the assistant coach at Kansas City Kansas Community College, and has also served as the head coach for the KC Courage of the WPSL. LaForge has been very involved in player development at the club level, as she is currently the Director of Player Development for Kansas Elite Soccer Club, and trains athletes in the Kansas Olympic Development Program.


Prior to moving to the sidelines as a coach, LaForge played professionally for seven seasons, including seven appearances with FC Kansas City in 2013. She made her professional debut in 2010 with Kristianstads DFF (Sweden), before moving to Hammarby IF (Sweden) in 2011. She appeared in 99 professional games, scoring 10 goals.


In addition to her club appearances, LaForge earned a call-up to the Canadian Women's National Team camp in 2011.


LaForge played collegiately at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis., where she was a four-year starter for the Golden Eagles from 2005-2008, earning a trip to the Sweet Sixteen in her freshman campaign. She was named to the NCAA All-America Second Team as a senior in 2008 as a right defender, and she graduated from Marquette in the 2009 with a degree in public relations and marketing.


She has strong Avila ties, as both of her parents are Eagle alumni. LaForge played her prep soccer at St. Teresa's Academy in Kansas City, Mo. While at STA, LaForge helped the Stars to three state championships in four seasons, earning all-state and all-district honors in each of her final three seasons.


Her father, Neil Kelly, '85, starred on the men's soccer team for four seasons, helping the Eagles to their first-ever NAIA District 16 Championship and the No. 1 overall seed in the NAIA Championships during the 1982 season. The 1982 team was inducted into the Avila Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005. Her mother, Shelley, '87, played tennis at Avila, and joined the Avila University Board of Counselors in 2017. Her brother, Patrick, played on Avila's men's soccer team in 2011 before transferring to and graduating from Marquette. LaForge's sister, Maegan, has made one appearance for the Canada Women's National Team in 2017.


LaForge lives in Kansas City with her husband, Brian, and son, Gerard.

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Brooklynn Elder

Brooklyn Elder begins her third season as an assistant at Avila in 2024-25. Elder brings a litany of experience to the Eagles sideline, as she is the head coach at Christ Prep Academy in Lenexa, Kan. She spent the 2018-20 seasons as a coach at Derby County Futsal Club. Prior to her time in the UK, Elder spent two seasons as an assistant at Missouri Southern State University.


An extensive playing career, Elder is currently a member of the Kansas City Courage of the WPSL and has played for the club since 2015. Elder played collegiately at the University of Nottingham (United Kingdom), Bethany (Kan.) College, Colorado Mesa University and Johnson County Community College - where she was a member of the track team as well. While at Bethany, Elder was also a member of the school's basketball and track programs.


Elder obtained her USSF "E" License in 2017.

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