Emily Hester enters her third year as assistant coach of the Southern Utah University women's soccer team. This will be her second season under head coach Fred Thompson after being a part of the previous staff during the 2016 season.
Before coming to SUU in 2016, Hester was an assistant coach at Chicago State University for the 2015 season and Southwest Minnesota State University in 2014. She has also spent seven years as a camp coach at University of North Carolina and one year as a camp coach at the University of Texas.
Before entering the collegiate coaching world, Hester was a staff coach at the Olympic Development Programs in Omaha, Nebraska and Aberdeen, South Dakota as well as a volunteer coach for the Lyons Township Soccer Club in La Grange, Illinois. She also spent time in the club circuit with the Bellevue Soccer Club in Bellevue, Nebraska and the Phoenix Futbol Club in Omaha, Nebraska.
Hester spent her collegiate years as a member of the Bellevue University Women's Soccer team where she lettered in soccer all four years. She was a three-time MCAC Scholar Athlete and All-MCAC Second Team honoree. In her senior season she was named team MVP, Bellevue University Female Athlete of the Year, and earned the NAIA Champions of Character Award. She helped lead the team to three MCAC Regular Season championships, four MCAC Conference Tournament championships, and four NAIA National Tournament appearances. Hester also played softball for Bellevue and was an athletic training student volunteer all four years.
Hester holds a Bachelor's of Science in Health and Human Performance from Bellevue University and a Master's of Science in Physical Education with an emphasis in Coaching of Sport from Southwest Minnesota State University. In addition to her degrees, Hester also holds a USSF D National License, a USSF E License, and NSCAA Goalkeeping Level 1, 2 & 3 Diplomas.
