Kathy Brawn, Colgate's head women's soccer coach, announced the hiring of Karen Gurnon as the newest addition to her staff in July 2014.
"I am thrilled to be a part of such a warm and welcoming community here at Colgate," Gurnon said. "Joining a university with excellent academic standards, as well as a storied soccer program, is an exciting way to continue my college soccer coaching career.
"Kathy and Chris (McLain) are accomplished coaches as well as wonderful people, and I am very thankful for the opportunity to be working with them."
Gurnon joins Colgate from Durham University in England, where she was the graduate assistant with the women's football (soccer) first team for the past year. There she helped lead the team to a league championship and a BUCS semifinal finish. Gurnon was responsible for gameday operations, equipment, set up, warm up and social media for the team.
While living overseas Gurnon also helped with the Durham women's second team as an assistant coach, the Ustinov College women's team as head coach, and the women's futsal (indoor soccer) university as the coordinator.
During the summer of 2013, Gurnon played on the Ottawa Fury W-League Senior Team as the starting outside back. With the Fury, she helped the team make it to the quarterfinals of their league tournament.
The 2012 University of Connecticut graduate was a four-year letterwinner for the Huskies, co-captaining the team during her senior season. She started 75 of her 83 games played, including her last 35 straight games.
She accumulated the most minutes played on the team during the 2008 and 2012 seasons, while also helping the Huskies to four straight Big East Tournament appearances. Connecticut reached the Big East semifinal twice, the Big East final once and NCAA Tournament twice during her time on the pitch.
Throughout her time at Connecticut, Gurnon also played with the New England Mutiny WPSL Elite Semi-Professional Senior Team. There, she helped the Mutiny to a 2008 WPSL semifinal appearance, where she was a starting defender.
Off the field, Gurnon was a four-year member of the All-Big East Academic Team, while also earning New England Scholar nods in 2009 for a 3.7 or higher GPA during the academic year.
"Karen is such a fantastic fit for Colgate and for our program," Brawn said. "She is a rising star among young coaches and we are fortunate to have her join our staff. Karen's knowledge of the game, her enthusiasm, and perspective as both a coach and a recent graduate, add a wonderful dimension to the Raider women's soccer family."
Gurnon earned her duel degree in psychology and anthropology and is in the process of finishing up her master's degree in education from Durham.
Gurnon holds a NSCAA Special Topics diploma, NSCAA Level 1 Goalkeeper diploma, and a CJSA Basic Level "E" license. She also has previous youth coaching appearance with Ottawa Fury Soccer Club in Canada and Northeast United Soccer Club in Connecticut.
