Matt Kagan named Green Bay women’s soccer head coach

GREEN BAY – Director of Athletics Josh Moon named Matthew Kagan the next head coach of the Green Bay women’s soccer program Friday afternoon.

Kagan comes to Green Bay after spending four seasons as a Women’s Soccer Assistant Coach at Washington State.

Kagan also previously served as the Head Coach at Oregon State and will become the 15th Head Coach in Phoenix women’s soccer history.

“I want to thank Todd Shulenberger and Anne McCoy for giving me the wonderful opportunity to join the Washington State community,” said Kagan.

“We thoroughly enjoyed our four years in Pullman and will always root for the Cougs!”

During his first season on the Palouse, Kagan guided the Washington State backline to the second-best goals-against average in program history, allowing just 0.59 goals per game. The Cougars made an NCAA Second Round appearance that year, knocking off Montana in the opening round.

In Kagan’s four years there, the Cougars went 39-21-18.

“I am honored to be the next Head Coach of Green Bay Women’s Soccer,” Kagan said. “I believe in Josh Moon’s vision for the program and believe Green Bay can be very successful in the Horizon League moving forward. Green Bay is an outstanding place to raise a family — and Jessica and I are excited to raise our young daughter Elliana here. Green Bay was also so attractive because of the thriving hospitality industry which is so important to my wife. We can’t wait to get started in Titletown! Go Phoenix!”

Kagan will oversee the rebuilding of the Phoenix program, an area in which he has some experience. At Oregon State, Kagan took over the program as head coach in 2019 following a 2-17 season from the Beavers the season prior.

Oregon State went on to finish 11-6-2 the following season, the best turnaround in the NCAA that season. In addition, Kagan revamped the Beavers’ offense as OSU went from scoring six goals the previous year to 31 in 2019. Playing a pandemic-altered season in the spring of 2021, the Beavers made the most of their shortened campaign coming up with a signature win early in the spring as OSU defeated No. 3 Stanford, 2-1, for just the second win over the Cardinal in program history.

“We are thrilled to welcome Matt and his family to UWGB,” said the Mark Murphy Endowed Director of Athletics Josh Moon. “Matt brings a ton of experience from the Power 4 level to our program, and he knows how to build and sustain a winning culture. Matt will elevate Phoenix soccer - we are excited for our current and future student-athletes to go to work under his leadership,” said Moon.

Before becoming head coach at Oregon State, Matt was the Associate Head Coach for Mississippi State, where he helped the Bulldogs qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history in 2018. The Bulldogs achieved a 9-5-4 record in his first season with the team, their best record in 16 years.

Kagan has achieved more than just making the NCAA Tournament but has great experience in finding success within the tournament as well. Kagan was the Associate Head Coach at Loyola Marymount when they advanced to the Sweet Sixteen, grabbing victories over No. 13 ranked California followed by Minnesota. In his final season with the program, Loyola finished 11-5-3 including wins over nationally ranked teams like No. 15 Pepperdine and No. 18 Long Beach State. Additionally, Kagan served as an Assistant Coach at the University of Miami from 2011-13, where the Hurricanes advanced to the NCAA Tournament and the second round after defeating Alabama in round one in 2011.

In addition, Kagan was an Assistant Coach at Evansville, when they advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2008 after winning the Missouri Valley Conference and being a member of the conference’s coaching staff of the year.

Kagan piloted Worcester State from 2005-08, where the Lancers saw NCAA DIII Tournament action in three of his four seasons, including a Sweet Sixteen bid in 2007.

Kagan led the squad to an overall record of 45-15-3 while boasting a 16-1-1 conference record during his tenure.

As an Assistant Coach at Assumption College, Kagan aided the Greyhounds to a Sweet Sixteen appearance in the National Tournament in 2004, ranking as high as 14th among DII schools in the country.

Kagan is a 2002 graduate of Southern New Hampshire University where he led his team to three NCAA Tournament appearances including a national runner-up finish as a senior. He earned both a bachelor’s (sports management) and a master’s degree (business administration) from Southern New Hampshire.

Rebuilding
Kagan will be taking over the Phoenix program for head coach Julie Grutzner, whom the Phoenix announced they would be moving on from after the conclusion of their 2024 season.

Grutzner inherited the Phoenix program as an alumni after serving as assistant coach to Jason Spain who led the team to fourth place in the Horizon League in 2021.

Grutzner lead the Phoenix to a record of 7-30-12.

The Phoenix finsihed their 2024 season in eighth place in the Horizon League this season past season under Grutzner after taking 11th place in 2022 and 2023.

Kagan said he believes in the program’s potential and is looking forward to rebuilding the women’s soccer team from the ground up.

For the latest and most up-to-date information on Green Bay Athletics, please visit GreenBayPhoenix.com.