Dr. Kathleen Paulsen was named head coach of the Lipscomb University women’s soccer program in December 2025 after 13 successful seasons leading the program at John Brown University.
One of the most accomplished coaches in the NAIA ranks, Paulsen built John Brown into a national contender while compiling a .787 career winning percentage. During her tenure, the Golden Eagles captured seven Sooner Athletic Conference regular-season championships and eight SAC tournament titles while making back-to-back NAIA Elite Eight appearances in 2024 and 2025. Since 2020, her teams posted a remarkable 96-19-7 record and appeared in the NAIA Coaches’ Top 25 Poll 98 times.
Paulsen’s coaching excellence earned her four SAC Coach of the Year honors and national recognition as one of the top leaders in collegiate women’s soccer. In addition to competitive success, she developed 11 NAIA All-Americans and five SAC Players of the Year during her time at JBU.
A strong believer in holistic student-athlete development, Paulsen’s coaching philosophy centers on competitive excellence, spiritual formation, and injury prevention. Holding a PhD in kinesiology, her academic research focused on the use of heart rate and GPS technology in sports performance and talent identification. She is known for building Christ-centered team cultures rooted in humility, servant leadership, and growth beyond the game.
Paulsen also brings extensive leadership experience on the national level, currently serving as the NAIA Women’s Soccer President and as a member of both the NAIA National Rater and All-America committees. Her professional certifications include a United Soccer Coaches Advanced National Diploma and an Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma.
Prior to her coaching career, Paulsen was a four-year letterwinner at the University of Arkansas, appearing in all 77 matches of her collegiate career before graduating in 2010.
“Kathleen embodies the ‘Highest Level. Higher Calling.’ mission of Lipscomb Athletics,” said Director of Athletics Philip Hutcheson. “She is a proven winner, a great tactician, and a woman of deep faith who understands the impact athletics can have on the lives of young women.”
