Harvard Women's Soccer Adds Experienced Coach Jaelyn Cunningham

Strategic Insights -

The Harvard University Athletics department has announced the hiring of Jaelyn Cunningham as an assistant coach for the women's soccer team. Cunningham brings a wealth of experience from her two-year tenure as the Goalkeeper Coach at the University of Houston, where she helped guide the team to a 6-0-1 start in 2023, the best start to a season in program history. Cunningham's coaching experience spans several institutions, including the University of Toledo, Queens University of Charlotte, and the HTX Soccer Club in Texas.

Key Takeaways:

  • Jaelyn Cunningham joins Harvard women's soccer as an assistant coach, working with the team's goalkeepers.
  • Cunningham previously served as the Goalkeeper Coach at the University of Houston, where she helped the team achieve a 6-0-1 start in 2023, the best start to a season in program history.
  • The University of Houston made a notable jump from the American Athletic Conference (AAC) to the Big 12 Conference, and Cunningham's guidance played a key role in this transition.
  • Cunningham has extensive coaching experience from various institutions, including the University of Toledo, Queens University of Charlotte, and the HTX Soccer Club in Texas.
  • At the University of Toledo, Cunningham helped develop several standout players, including a MAC Freshman of the Year, a single-season program record holder, and a goalkeeper who ranked fourth nationally in shutouts.
  • At Queens University of Charlotte, Cunningham served as the Goalkeeper Coach, helping the team to a 5-1-1 record, and the team's goalkeeper earned Conference Player of the Week honors three times and was named First-Team All-Conference.
  • Cunningham is a graduate of the University of Illinois, where she was a three-year starting goalkeeper, and holds the second-highest record for most saves in a single season.
  • Cunningham also has experience at the professional level, competing with the Seattle Sounders Women, the Chicago Red Stars, and the Orlando Pride.
  • Cunningham will work closely with 2024 All-Ivy selection Rhiannon Stewart, who will be back between the posts for her senior season in 2025 under Cunningham's mentorship.

Statistics:

  • University of Houston's 6-0-1 start in 2023, the best start to a season in program history.
  • University of Toledo's 10-6-4 record in 2021, the program's best season since 2017.
  • Queens University of Charlotte's 5-1-1 record, with the team's goalkeeper earning Conference Player of the Week honors three times.
  • Jaelyn Cunningham's coaching experience:

+ University of Houston (2021-2023)

+ University of Toledo (2020-2021)

+ Queens University of Charlotte (2019-2020)

+ HTX Soccer Club in Texas (2018-2019)

Sources:

  • Harvard University Athletics
  • University of Houston Athletics
  • University of Toledo Athletics
  • Queens University of Charlotte Athletics
  • HTX Soccer Club