Kit Vela - Head Coach

Coach Vela is in her ninth season as Head Coach of the Lady Lobos as well as Head Coach of the Academy.

She brings over 15 years of Division I coaching experience.

- 4 straight winning seasons at UNM

- Taken the team to a ranking of 67 (from 249-8 years ago)

- Taken UNM to the MWC Championship game in 2002 and 2005

- Has had more players make All-Conference and All-Tournament teams in the history of the program

- In 2007 and 2008, for the first time, had several UNM players receive National Team of the Week honors

- Was named MWC Coach of the Year in 2001

- Only high school coach in Southern California to win a CIF title as both a coach and a player with her high school

- First female club coach to coach in the prestigious premier Division of the Southern California Coast Soccer League

- Won a National Championship in 1998 as a player with Ajax F.C out of Southern California

- Four year Letter Winner at Brown University, ranked top 12 in the country all 4 years

Jorge Vela - Assistant Coach

Jorge brings over 15 years of Division I coaching experience, his main responsibilities at UNM are with the defensive unit and the goalkeepers

- The UNM defense has been ranked in the top ten in the country for the last 4 years

- The UNM goalkeepers have received many All-Conference, All-Tournament and National honors

- One of the most renowned goalkeeper coaches in the U.S.

- Has coached several MLS, Regional and National goalkeepers

- Won U-23 National Championship for the Southern California Select Team as a player in 1993

- Played for the Guatemalan U-20 and U-23 National Teams

- Played Professionally in Guatemala and the U.S.

Kristen Graczyk - Assistant Coach

Kristen is in her fourth season as Assistant Coach of UNM as well as staff member of the Academy.

- MAC Herman Trophy Semi Finalist

- Two time All-American

- U-21 National Team member

The rest of the Lobo Women’s Soccer Academy Staff will be members of the UNM Women’s Soccer Team. This staff of players is dedicated to teaching the skills and the tactics, with enthusiasm and passion, for the game of women’s soccer.