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Jennifer Klein
Jennifer Klein enters her sixth season at the helm of the of the University of Michigan women's soccer program. Klein was announced as the third head coach in women's soccer program history on February 28, 2018.
The Wolverines scrapped their way to a 7-8-3 overall record in 2022, The season began with a 5-2-1 start, but a 2-6-2 Big Ten record did not result in a postseason berth. Graduate student Meredith Haakenson was named All-Big Ten Third Team at the conclusion of the season.
The 2021 season proved to be one of the best in program history. U-M won its first Big Ten Tournament title since 1999, and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals before falling in overtime to eventual national champion Florida State. Michigan concluded the season with a record of 18-4-3, tying the school record for wins in a season, and went 12-1-1 at home to match the best home record in school history. U-M finished the season ranked No. 7 in the United Soccer Coaches poll. Six Wolverines earned All-Big Ten honors, while five were named to the United Soccer Coaches all-region team. Senior Alia Martin was named a MAC Hermann Semifinalist, and became the second first-team All-America honoree and third in program history.
In year three, Klein led U-M to a 5-3-3 Big Ten-only record in the COVID-19 shortened season. Even through the difficult season, Klein was instrumental in the development of Jayde Riviere, who earned a gold medal for Team Canada at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic games. U-M also had six players named to the All-Big Ten teams (most since 2012). Three players earned United Soccer Coaches All-Region plaudits in Nicki Hernandez, Alia Martin and Sarah Stratigakis.
In just her second season with the Wolverines, Klein capped off one of the best seasons in recent history as she led the team to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since the 2016 season and also making its first appearance in the Big Ten Tournament final for the first time since 2005. U-M's 17 wins in the 2019 campaign tied for the third-most in program history, while the Wolverines earned their first ranking in the United Soccer Coaches Poll since the 2017 campaign.
Michigan tied for second in the Big Ten Conference and earned the No. 3 seed in the Big Ten Tournament, while defeating four ranked opponents in 2019. Furthermore, Michigan had 46 goals, which ranks fourth in program history and its 47 assists ranked fifth in the history of the program.
Individually, Klein helped Sarah Stratigakis become the first-ever Big Ten Midfielder of the Year in Michigan history in 2019, while also helping her to United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-America accolades. The Wolverines had a record eight student-athletes honored by the Big Ten Conference in 2019 and four players garnered all-region honors.
Klein led Michigan back to the Big Ten Tournament for the first time since the 2016 season in her first season at the help of the U-M program in 2018. Michigan started the season going 4-0 at U-M Soccer Stadium and notched one win over a ranked opponent, shutting out No. 17 Wisconsin 2-0 at home. U-M had three Wolverines earn United Soccer Coaches All-Region honors, while three garnered Big Ten honors in the 2018 campaign.
Klein also helped Reilly Martin finish out her career as one of only four players to score over 20 goals and notch 20-or-more assists as a Wolverine and earn All-District Second Team honors.
Off the field, 13 Wolverines were recognized as Academic All-Big Ten honorees, while four were Big Ten Distinguished Scholars.
At USC, Klein oversaw recruiting for a program that won the 2016 national championship. That season, the Trojans lost their first two games before an extraordinary run that saw them finish 19-4-2 and 8-2-1 in the challenging Pac-12 Conference. In her four seasons, Klein helped USC to a cumulative 71-19-9 record overall and a 31-11-2 mark in conference play.
Prior to her time at USC, Klein spent two seasons as an assistant at Washington State, where the program twice advanced to the NCAA Tournament and produced the 2014 Pac-12 Player of the Year in Michaela Castain. In 2013, the Cougars tied the program records for victories with a 14-3-4 mark, as the team and players set or tied 27 school records including allowing just 11 goals.
Prior to her time in Pullman, Klein spent five seasons at UNLV including her final two as the program's head coach as she guided the Rebels to a 19-18-4 record. At the time she was named head coach prior to the 2010 campaign, Klein was the youngest head coach in NCAA Division I women's soccer. In Klein's first year as head coach, the Rebels improved their win total from the previous season from five to 11 and set a program record with 38 goals scored.
Klein's collegiate coaching career began as a volunteer assistant at the University of Arizona, her alma mater, during the 2006 season.
In addition to her work at the collegiate level, Klein is also an assistant coach with the U.S. Soccer U19 women's national team. Klein also worked for four years as a coach with U.S. Soccer's LA Market Training Center, part of a national platform designed to improve player identification, player development, and coach development for the national team.
Klein boasts experience with the youth soccer ranks, having coached club teams and regional Olympic Development Program teams during her tenures at UNLV and Arizona. She received her National "A" License in the summer of 2011.
Klein graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology in May of 2006. She earned her master's degree in athletic administration at UNLV in May of 2011.
At Arizona, Klein was a four-year letterwinner from 2002-05 and was a two-time team captain. She was part of the school's first Pac-10 championship team in 2004 and was a starter on the 2005 squad that advanced to the third round of the NCAA Championship. Klein appeared in 78 career games, starting 60 contests at midfield and outside back. She was also a member of the Arizona Heatwave in the semi-professional W-League from 2003-05.
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