Katy Freels enters her second season as head coach of the women’s soccer program, after joining the program as head coach in 2024.
In her first season leading the Panthers, Freels guided the program to a successful campaign. Florida Tech captured the Sunshine State Conference Championship after defeating Nova Southeastern in penalty kicks 5–4 and finished with 13 wins, the third-most in program history. The Panthers also hosted the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament and climbed as high as No. 12 in the national rankings.
Freels was named the 2024 Sunshine State Conference Coach of the Year, as Florida Tech swept the conference’s major awards. The Panthers produced the SSC Offensive Player of the Year (Marta Llopis), Defensive Player of the Year (Daniela Tobon), and Goalkeeper of the Year (Kaitlin Sinkler). The team also earned ranked victories over No. 22 North Georgia and No. 23 Embry-Riddle.
Prior to becoming head coach, Freels spent three seasons as a volunteer assistant coach with Florida Tech, contributing to a highly successful stretch that included two South Region championships, a national semifinal appearance, and three consecutive Sunshine State Conference Tournament championship game appearances. She was also part of the coaching staff that earned United Soccer Coaches South Region Staff of the Year honors in 2023.
Before joining Florida Tech, Freels served as a volunteer assistant coach at Auburn University from 2011 to 2014, helping the program to a 48–34–10 record, an SEC Tournament title, and three NCAA Tournament appearances.
Freels also enjoyed a standout professional and international playing career. She played for the Western New York Flash in the Women’s Premier Soccer League Elite, helping lead the team to a league championship in 2012. In 2013, she was selected fifth overall in the NWSL Supplemental Draft by Sky Blue FC, where she went on to make 65 appearances over three seasons, recording 11 goals and 12 assists.
Internationally, Freels represented the United States at the U-20 and U-23 levels, including being part of the U-23 squad that won the 2008 Nordic Cup in Sweden.
A decorated collegiate player at Auburn University from 2008 to 2011, Freels was a four-time First Team All-SEC selection, SEC Freshman of the Year, and two-time NSCAA All-American. She holds Auburn’s career records in assists (42) and points (104) and ranks among the SEC’s all-time leaders in multiple offensive categories. She was also a two-time CoSIDA/NSCAA Academic All-American and earned recognition as both SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year and NSCAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2011.
Freels earned her bachelor’s degree in political science with a concentration in international relations from Auburn University in 2011. She resides in Melbourne with her husband, Kevin, and their three children, Kinsey, Canon, and Crew.
