MORRIS, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris women's soccer program has announced the hiring of Emma Donohoe as the team's new assistant coach. Donohoe joins UMN Morris after completing a graduate assistantship at Mount Marty University in Yankton, S.D.

A native of Ireland, Donohoe's playing career in the United States began at Ranger Junior College in Texas. From there, she went on to finish her undergraduate education at Bluefield College in Virginia, where she graduated with a degree in Sports Management in 2018. Following her time at Mount Marty, she has now added a Master's degree in Coaching Leadership following two years on the coaching staff for the Lancers.

Donohoe began her coaching career early, organizing three girls soccer teams at her high school in Ireland. She continued to grow her career at Bluefield, helping set up and run a kid's camp in which the funds raised went to help a professor with medical expenses. Following her graduation from Bluefield, Donohoe spent a pair of summers working as a full-time coach for the Chicago Fire Soccer in the Community program. With the Fire organization, she has also become the program manager of the club's Little Sparks program, specifically designed for children aged one to five. 

While in the Chicago area, Donohoe also coached four club programs and was an assistant coach for girls soccer at Nazareth Academy in La Grange, Ill. For the past two seasons she has worked at Mount Marty, helping with planning and execution of practice plans, gameday coaching, facility setup, weight room training, recruiting assistance, and academic monitoring, among other duties within the program and athletic department.

"We are really excited for Coach Donohoe to join our team," said Head Women's Soccer Coach Bianca Keil. "Her commitment to player development and her experience as a goalkeeper and field player will be a great asset to our program."

The Cougar women's soccer team kicks off the 2021 season on Sept. 1 with a road match at the College of Saint Benedict. The first home match of the year is slated for Sept. 19 against the University of Wisconsin-Stout.