The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Soccer
- Title:
- Head Coach
By The Numbers
314 — Career Wins
100 — All-Conference Selections
22 — Professional Players
17 — NCAA Tournament Appearances
14 — Conference Award Winners
9 — All-American Selections
7 — NCAA Sweet 16 appearances
10 – Conference championships
4 – Conference Coach of the Year Honors
4 – World Cup Team Members
3 – Olympians
Over the last 25 years, Ange Kelly has become one of the most respected names in college soccer. Across her illustrious head coaching career, Kelly has totaled 312 career wins and coached her teams to 17 postseason appearances, including seven trips to the Sweet 16.
Building a Legacy in Austin
Since her arrival on The Forty Acres in December 2011, Ange Kelly has transformed Texas into a national contender, amassing a 152-78-34 (.640) mark over 13 seasons. With Kelly at the helm, the Longhorns have won three conference titles, while making eight NCAA Tournament appearances and reaching the Sweet 16 in both 2017 and 2023. Under her guidance, Texas has produced 66 All-Conference selections and eight All-America honorees. Kelly also coached the first Olympian and medalist in Texas history (Julia Grosso, Tokyo 2020).
Record-Breaking Era
Across the last three seasons, Kelly has led the Longhorns to a trio of conference titles. In 2024, Texas captured the SEC Tournament crown in its inaugural campaign in the league. Throughout the historic campaign, Lexi Missimo set a program record with 56 career goals, while Amalia Villarreal burst onto the collegiate scene to be named SEC Freshman of the Year. The 2023 season was one of the finest in Texas history. Behind an explosive offense led by Missimo and fellow All-American Trinity Byars, Texas won the Big 12 Tournament title and advanced to the Sweet 16. Missimo and Byars combined for 44 goals and 34 assists, each notching double-digit tallies and assists for the second straight year. Missimo set a program single-season record with 26 goals and was named a MAC Hermann Trophy semifinalist. In 2022, Kelly was named Big 12 Coach of the Year, as she led Texas to a 7-0-2 mark in league play and the program’s first regular-season conference championship since 2001. That year, Byars garnered Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year distinction and EmJ Cox took home the league's Defensive Player of the Year recognition.
Success on Rocky Top
Before coming to Austin, Kelly built Tennessee into a national powerhouse. From 2000–2011, she guided the Lady Vols to a 160-84-20 (.644) ledger, four SEC Tournament titles, and nine NCAA Tournament berths, including five Sweet 16 appearances. Tennessee had never reached the NCAA Tournament before her tenure, making her turnaround of the program one of the most significant in the SEC at the time. Kelly was tabbed SEC Coach of the Year three consecutive times (2003–05) and developed six All-Americans and 43 All-SEC honorees.
Learned from The Best
Prior to being elevated to head coach, spent four seasons as an assistant coach for the Lady Vols under head coach Charlie MacCabe. She worked the 1995 campaign as a student assistant for the North Carolina Tar Heels under legendary coach Anson Dorrance. In that role, she gained valuable experience working alongside a respected coaching staff. That year, the Tar Heels posted a dominant 25-1 record, won the ACC Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament semifinals.
Championship Foundation
Kelly’s coaching success is rooted in a remarkable playing career. A four-year standout at North Carolina from 1991–94, Kelly helped the Tar Heels to a staggering 97-1-1 mark and four national championships. She was a three-time NCAA All-Tournament selection, three-time All-ACC honoree and 1994 All-American. She finished her career with 103 points (38 goals, 27 assists) and was named to the ACC’s 50th Anniversary Team in 2002. When her collegiate playing career ended, Kelly held the NCAA record for most matches played (99).
Internationally, Kelly earned 29 caps with the Canadian National Team and started every match at the 1995 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She also won back-to-back W-League titles with the Raleigh Wings and was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in 2004, becoming just the third woman to be enshrined in the hall.
A native of Scotland who grew up in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, Kelly earned her bachelor’s degree in physical education with an emphasis in psychology from UNC in 1994.
