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Kristi Huizenga
Kristi Huizenga, a native of Colchester, Vt., was named the head women's soccer coach at the University of Vermont on November 10, 2010. The 2020 season will mark her 10th season at the helm of the Catamounts. She ranks second in school history with 51 career victories.
The 2022 season saw the Catamounts regress to 4-9-3 overall and place eighth in the America East. However, six of Vermont’s nine loses came by just a one goal differential. Huizenga led two All-Conference honorees with Sydney Remington earning All-Rookie Team and Abbey Knobel made All-Academic Team.
The 2021 Catamounts won the America East regular season championship for the first time since 1996. The seven league victories are the most during her 12-year tenure and the most since the 1996 season. Vermont also earned their first NCAA Tournament berth in program history. UVM’s 12 overall wins matched the second most victories in program history (1996). The Catamounts earned their first ever America East Championship defeating UNH 1-0 at Virtue Field.
The 2021 Catamounts reached unprecedented heights leading America East play in goals scored (32), saves (122), total points (88), assists (24), average points per game (4.63), and league play goal differential of +10.
At the end of the 2021 campaign, the Catamounts earned three of the five major awards presented by the America East. Ella Bankert was named Midfielder of the Year and senior Lydia Kessel earned Goalkeeper of the Year – both first-ever in Catamount program history. Huizenga and her staff were named the Coaching Staff of the Year. Following the conclusion of the season, Vermont was represented by Alyssa Oviedo, Ella Bankert, Alex West and Lydia Kessel on the All-Conference First Team and Natalie Durieux was named All-Conference Second Team with Bankert and Kessel also earning All-Academic Team. First years Bailey Ayer and Maddy Cronin landed on the All-Rookie Team.
The 2018 Cats made their fourth straight trip to the America East Tournament - a first for the program. The four victories during the league slate matched the most during her eight-year tenure. UVM had one of the top defenses in America East and surrendered the third-fewest goals (22) and recorded the third-best goals-against average (1.22). At season's end, the Catamounts were represented by seniors Brooke Jenkins and Casey Garfinkel on the All-Conference Second Team and All-Academic Team while freshman Alyssa Oviedo landed on the All-Rookie Team.
Huizenga brought the UVM women's soccer program to new heights in 2017. The Catamounts made their first ever appearance in the America East Championship Game and became only the second team in the history of the league to earn a title game berth as a No. 6 seed. The 2017 Cats ended the season with a 9-9-2 overall record, their highest win total since the 2004 campaign. UVM had three players earn All-America East honors as Sarah Martin landed on the All-Conference First Team, Jenkins made the All-Conference Second Team and All-Academic Team, and Ella Bankert was honored with an All-Rookie Team nod.
The 2016 Catamounts made their second consecutive trip to the semifinal round of the America East Tournament, a first for the program. Three players earned America East honors – Martin was a Second Team All-Conference selection while Julia Smith and Jenkins made the All-Rookie Team. It marked the 12th straight season where a new Cat had garnered All-Rookie honors. In net, junior keeper Coco Speckmaier finished the season tied for the ninth-best goals-against average in program history at 1.05. She also cracked the top-10 in shutouts (6) and shattered the minutes played record (1,802).
Vermont hosted a playoff game for the second time in program history and second time in Huizenga's tenure. The Catamounts also earned their highest seed in the America East postseason (No. 3) and posted a 1-0 shutout win over No. 6 UMBC in the quarterfinal round. The match was also the first night game at Virtue Field since the facility opened in the spring of 2012.
Three Catamounts earned America East honors Nikki McFarland and Martin were named to the All-Conference Second Team and Garfinkel was an All-Rookie selection.
In her first three seasons as the head coach of the Catamounts, UVM made three straight trips to the America East Tournament, a first in the program's history. Huizegna has guided UVM to the America East Playoffs in five out of her first six seasons, including a trio of trips to the semifinals.
Huizenga spent three seasons as an assistant coach in the program. She was promoted to the first assistant position in 2009 after joining the Catamounts as a part-time assistant in 2008.
In her first season at the helm of the Catamounts (2011), UVM earned a berth to the America East Tournament for the first time in five years. UVM tied for fourth in the final America East standings, but due to tiebreakers earned the No. 6 seed and fell to No. 3 Albany in double-overtime in the quarterfinals.
In 2012, Vermont returned to the league playoffs and advanced to the conference semifinals for the first time since the field expanded in 2001. The Catamounts earned the No. 4 seed in the America East Tournament, after being picked to finish sixth in the preseason poll, and hosted a conference playoff game for the first time in 16 years. UVM advanced to the semifinals with a penalty kick shootout win over Albany at Virtue Field.
In 2013 she guided the team to six wins and freshman McFarland was named the America East Rookie of the Year. She became the first Catamount to earn the honor in 17 years and just the second overall.
A former University of Connecticut and Colchester (Vt.) High School standout, Huizenga came to Vermont after spending two seasons as an assistant coach at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. She was also a member of the FSA SoccerPlus FC staff with Tony DiCicco, the former U.S. Women's National Team coach, since 2005.
Huizenga graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2006 after an outstanding four-year career with the Huskies. She helped UConn win three Big East regular season titles and two tournament championships in her four years.
The Huskies also advanced to the NCAA Tournament four times, including an appearance in the Final Four and national championship game in 2003.
Huizenga served as a team captain as a senior and earned team MVP honors that year. She was also named to the NSCAA All-Northeast Region and NEWISA All-New England teams in 2005. She closed out her career ranked among the all-time leaders in games played at UConn with 93 appearances.
Prior to her collegiate career at Connecticut, Huizenga played locally at Colchester High School. She was the Gatorade Player of the Year and Vermont Player of the Year twice and was named to the all-state first team all four years. Huizenga also earned NSCAA/Adidas all-America honors twice during her scholastic career.
Huizenga also played for one of the top club programs, the Bethesda (Md.) Fury, prior to beginning her collegiate career. She won three state championships, two regional championships and one national championship in 2001 with the Fury. Prior to joining the Fury, Huizenga played locally with the Far Post and Nordic Club programs.
She was a member of the Region 1 ODP Team from 1998-2002, and a U.S. National Team Pool player from 1998-2001 at the U-14, U-16, and U-19 levels. She also was named to the U.S. U-16 Youth All-American Team in 2001.
Huizenga continued her playing career following her graduation from UConn. In 2006, she led the New Jersey Wildcats of the W-League to the Eastern Conference Regular Season Championship and served as captain of the SoccerPlus Connecticut Reds of the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) from 2007-2008.
Huizenga holds several coaching credentials including a USSF "A" License and an NSCAA Premier Diploma, the highest coaching badges awarded by each organization. She is also a member of the Region 1 Olympic Development Program Coaching Staff.
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