Saint Louis Billikens Athletics

Now in her 14th season as head coach, Katie Shields leads a Saint Louis University women’s soccer program that has achieved a remarkable run of success under her guidance.
 
Shields begins the 2026 campaign with a 182-65-24 overall record. Her .716 winning percentage ranks sixth among all active NCAA Division I women’s soccer coaches, and second among active Division I female coaches, who have coached a minimum of five seasons at the Division I level.
 
Shields’ .788 winning percentage (160-36-19) from 2016-25 ranks second among all active Division I women’s soccer coaches (minimum five seasons) and is the top mark among active female Division I women’s soccer coaches. The 160 wins are the most of any 10-year period in SLU women’s soccer history and the most in the A-10 from 2016-25.
 
In addition, Saint Louis posted a 103-10-9 (.881) record vs. A-10 opponents (regular season and conference tournament) from 2016-25. During their three-year regular-season championship run of 2018-20, the Billikens were undefeated (27-0-1, .982) in regular-season league competition; adding conference tournament games, the three-year record was 35-0-1 (.986) against A-10 opponents. In its three-year regular-season title streak of 2022-24, SLU went 26-0-4 (.933) in regular-season play and 35-0-4 (.949) including A-10 Championship matches.
 
The 2025 Billikens turned in a 14-4-2 overall record, producing the program’s 21st winning season (10th consecutive) and 12th winning percentage of .750 or higher (fourth consecutive and nine of the past 10 years). Saint Louis was 8-1-1 in conference play.
 
Six Billikens received 2025 A-10 postseason honors. Izzy Luebbert was named to the All-Conference first team, giving SLU a first-team selection for a 10th consecutive year, while Hannah Larson and Julia Simon collected second-team accolades. Caroline Chier was tabbed the league’s co-Rookie of the Year and was joined on the All-Rookie team by Adee Broesder and Blakely Hockett.
 
Saint Louis landed among the nation’s top 20 teams in five categories in 2025, placing third in corner kicks per game (7.80), 10th in shots on goal per game (8.15), 17th in winning percentage (.750), 18th in shots per game (17.10) and 20th in shutout percentage (.550, 11 shutouts in 20 games).

YEAR-BY-YEAR HIGHLIGHTS OF KATIE SHIELDS' SLU COACHING TENURE  

Shields collected her 100th career victory April 15, 2021, when the Billikens defeated Dayton 3-0 in the A-10 Championship semifinals at Hermann Stadium. Her 150th win also occurred in an A-10 Championship semifinal at Hermann, a 5-0 victory over Duquesne on Nov. 1, 2023. Shields coached her 250th game at SLU during the 2024 season.
 
During Shields’ tenure, Saint Louis players have earned All-America honors seven times, All-Region plaudits 34 times and Atlantic 10 accolades (first team, second team, All-Rookie) 83 times. In addition, Billikens have been selected A-10 Defensive Player of the Year eight times (eight of the past 10 seasons), Offensive Player of the Year four times (three of the past four seasons), Midfielder of the Year three times, Rookie of the Year three times and Goalkeeper of the Year once.
 
Shields’ Billikens have made Hermann Stadium one of the nation’s most difficult venues for visiting teams, going 86-11-13 (.841) on their home pitch from the final home game of the 2015 season through 2025. That includes a combined 29-1-2 (.938) ledger in the 2018, 2019 and 2020 campaigns. 
 
Depth and balance are hallmarks of Saint Louis women’s soccer in Shields’ system. Twenty-five different Billikens combined to earn 59 A-10 weekly awards between 2017 and 2025. There were 29 different player combinations that accounted for the Bills’ 31 assisted goals in 2025, continuing a broad-based offensive attack that began in 2017.
 
After serving as a Billiken assistant coach in 2012, Shields was named the third head coach in program history on Jan. 15, 2013.
 
Prior to her arrival at SLU, Shields spent two seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Northwestern. She served three years in the same capacities at her alma mater, Harvard, where she worked with head coach Ray Leone, who has led numerous NCAA Division I programs, and assistant coach Tracey Leone, who went on to serve six seasons as head coach at Northeastern. Shields helped guide Harvard to consecutive Ivy League titles and NCAA Tournament berths in 2008 and 2009. She coached two Ivy League Rookies of the Year, 16 All-Conference selections and six All-Region choices.
 
Shields began her coaching career with a one-year stint as an assistant at UC Irvine under head coach April Heinrichs, who recently served eight years as Technical Director for the U.S. Women's National Teams.
 
In addition to her collegiate coaching experience, Shields is an assistant with the U.S. Youth National Teams staff at various training camps and international competitions. She also serves as the liaison for the state of Missouri’s U.S. Soccer Training Center. Additionally, Shields was assistant goalkeeping coach for the Boston Breakers of Women's Professional Soccer under head coach Tony DiCicco in 2009; head coach of the Boston Bolts F.C. girls’ youth clubs for two years; and camp director/senior staff member of Soccerplus Goalkeeper School from 2006-11.
 
“During our search for a head coach, we engaged in exhaustive communication with National Team coaches, U.S. Soccer officials and NCAA College Cup coaches,” SLU Director of Athletics Chris May said at the time of Shields’ hiring. “They were unanimous in their support of Katie Shields as a leader who was ready to be a successful head coach.
 
“Katie is passionate about soccer and is committed to our department goals of educating student-athletes, competing at the highest level and building community,” May said. “We are confident she will develop a championship program by building trust, demonstrating a commitment to excellence and showing she cares about her student-athletes.”
 
“I am thrilled and honored to be the head women’s soccer coach at Saint Louis University,” Shields said upon her hiring. “I am grateful to the University’s administration for believing in me and my vision to lead the SLU women’s soccer program.
 
“Saint Louis University offers a unique combination of academic prestige, top-notch athletic facilities and a wealth of local soccer tradition, providing a world-class experience for our student-athletes.”
  
A goalkeeper, Shields enjoyed a distinguished playing career (2002-05) at Harvard. She garnered All-Ivy accolades all four seasons and was an All-Region honoree and team captain her senior campaign. Shields ranked fourth nationally in save percentage in 2005, set a school record for shutouts in a season and helped lead the 2004 Crimson to the NCAA Tournament.
 
Shields is a 2006 graduate of Harvard with a Bachelor of Arts degree in government.