Kansas has hired its first new soccer coach of the 21st century.
Nate Lie, who has spent seven years as the head coach at Xavier University, will assume the same position at KU, athletic director Travis Goff announced Monday.
“We are unbelievably excited to bring in Nate, who will undoubtedly instill a strong culture of competitive excellence,” Goff said in a press release. “The future of Kansas Soccer is incredibly bright with Nate at the helm, and we are thrilled for him to get to work.”
KU had been looking for a new coach since longtime leader Mark Francis, who led the Jayhawks for 25 seasons, announced his retirement on Oct. 24. Lie, who previously served as an assistant at Cincinnati, led the Xavier program to four straight NCAA Tournament appearances and a 28-match unbeaten streak in conference play. He said in the release he had “tremendous gratitude for the players and coaches that shared the journey” with the Musketeers.
“I was overwhelmed by the energy, positivity and passion of the Jayhawk community and I am completely sold on Travis’ vision of the future of Kansas Athletics,” Lie said. “… I believe, with deep conviction, that Kansas Soccer will be a consistent force in the Big 12 and on the national landscape.
“My family and I look forward to immersing ourselves in the KU community and I will work tirelessly alongside our student-athletes to bring Kansas Soccer to new heights! Rock Chalk!”
Lie’s overall record at Xavier was 82-37-19. The 17 wins his team accomplished in 2019 are the most in program history, closely followed by the 16 the Musketeers earned in 2021 and 14 in 2022 and 2023.
Lie is a native of Cleveland and an alumnus of Miami (Ohio), where he began his coaching career in 2009. He will now make a significant move out of state to build up the Jayhawks. He is Goff’s fourth head coaching hire, after Lance Leipold (football), Lindsay Kuhle (women’s golf) and Dan Fitzgerald (baseball).
KU went 4-8-6 (1-7-2 Big 12) in Francis’ final season.
Cody Cervenka/Xavier University
