Emerson College

Emerson College Athletics
120 Boylston Street Boston, MA 02116

Division 3 Massachusetts Northeast

Private Small Developing team

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Coaches

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David Suvak

David Suvak resumes the reins of the Emerson College women’s soccer team for his eleventh season. This year marks his fifteenth year working as a coach for Emerson College Athletics. David had been associate head coach of the Emerson men’s program before his appointment as the head coach of the women’s program.

David has over two decades of coaching experience at a wide variety of levels including Collegiate, High School, Olympic Development Program, East Region ODP and Premier Club Soccer. He is the former President and Technical Director of the New England Rush premier soccer club in Massachusetts. He is currently a Massachusetts ODP Girls Head Coach and serves on the East Region ODP staff. David has also been a State Coach (Assistant DOC of MA) for Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association. His many responsibilities included ODP Academy, teaching State Licensure Courses and Player and Coach Development in Massachusetts.

A native of Winchester, Massachusetts, where he was inducted into the Winchester Sports Foundation Hall of Fame in 2006, David graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Boston College in 1988. He also holds a BArch from a ProArts Consortium school, the Boston Architectural College.

While at Boston College, he was a member of the men’s soccer team and was a three-year starter. During his collegiate career, David led the Eagles to three Big East Championship tournaments. In addition to serving as team captain during his senior season, he was named team MVP in 1986, his junior year. Upon graduating, David continued to play semi-professional in the Luso American Soccer Association (LASA) after graduation. He played six years for the Lowell Lusitanos (Blues) and accumulated many league, Cup and Super Cup championships along the way. David was team captain for 4 seasons and was named team MVP two times over his playing career with the team.

David was awarded the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Premier Diploma as well as the Director of Coaching Diploma. He also holds a United States Soccer National A-Senior Coaching License.

David and his wife, Melissa, currently reside in Winchester. He and Melissa have three children; their daughters Kimberly, Kerry and son James.

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Colin Connolly

2023 marks Colin Connolly’s eleventh season with the Emerson College Women’s and Men’s soccer programs, and his third season as Associate Head Coach of Women’s Soccer. In his tenure with the teams, Connolly has assisted both programs in all facets including recruiting, goalkeeper training, and scouting and video analysis.

During his time at Emerson, the women’s program has attained regional rankings in back-to-back seasons in 2018 and 2019, and advanced to the NEWMAC playoffs in three of the last four seasons. Along the way, Emerson women’s soccer has received six NEWMAC first team all-conference selections, seven NEWMAC second team all-conference selections, a New England Region all-rookie team goalkeeper named by D3soccer.com, and an ECAC Tournament MVP.

Post-college, Connolly played for FC Reading and the New Hampshire Phantoms in addition to receiving professional trials in the USL and MISL. He has also competed in the highest amateur leagues in both Philadelphia and Boston over the past decade.Connolly also has several years of club coaching experience. He was on the staff of New England Rush as

a club goalkeeper instructor and as a coach for both boys and girls’ teams.

A native of Gloucester, Massachusetts, Connolly graduated from Temple University in 2010 with a degree in International Business and Finance. Outside of coaching, he continues to work in the finance industry in Boston. He holds a National D License from United States Soccer.

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Kate Kohler

Kohler joins the staff after a successful and decorated college playing career. Graduating from Ithaca College in December 2021, Kohler was a four-year standout with the Bombers, earning Liberty League accolades in her senior season. The West Islip, NY native twice led the Bombers in minutes played, and she anchored the back line of a squad that reached the NCAA tournament twice in her four seasons. In her time with Ithaca, the team posted impressive defensive numbers including 33 shutouts and a goals-against average of 0.87. In addition to her performance on the field, she was also recognized in the classroom. Kohler received Liberty League All-Academic honors twice, and she was inducted into the Ithaca College Chi Sigma Alpha, which honors student-athletes who maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.40-or-higher during their collegiate careers.

A 2017 graduate of West Islip High School, Kohler played three years at forward under coach Nick Grieco. In addition to being named the West Islip Offensive MVP in 2016, Kohler also earned All-Conference and All-League honors in her senior season.

Kohler's coaching experience stems from working with the Ithaca Youth Bureau. As a part of the staff, her efforts were recognized by ESPN "Outside the Lines" for uniting the local community children during the pandemic with soccer lessons.

Kohler graduated from Ithaca College with degrees in Sports Management and Legal Studies. She is continuing her education at Suffolk University Law School, and hopes to further add female representation in the Sports Law field.