Katie Ritchie

Katie Ritchie joins the University of San Diego women's soccer program as an assistant coach prior to the 2026 season, bringing extensive coaching experience across the collegiate, professional, and elite youth soccer levels.

Ritchie previously served as a volunteer assistant coach for the Toreros during the 2024 season.

Prior to returning to USD, Ritchie served as the head coach of the University of Saint Katherine women's soccer program from 2019 to 2025. Ritchie oversaw the program's transition from the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), recruiting 17 student-athletes during the spring of 2019.

Under Ritchie's leadership, Saint Katherine made four consecutive postseason tournament appearances from 2020 to 2023 and captured the 2021 California Pacific Conference regular-season championship. Ritchie was named Conference Coach of the Year in 2021 and 2023, as well as University of Saint Katherine Coach of the Year in 2022.

During her tenure, two players earned All-American honors, while several student-athletes received all-conference recognition. The program also maintained a cumulative team GPA above 3.0 and achieved strong player retention and graduation rates.

Ritchie also served as the Club Coach Liaison for San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) from 2024 to 2026. In the role, she built relationships with local youth clubs and assisted with scouting for the club's Talent ID Center. She also assisted with training non-traveling players, as well as supporting camps, clinics, Talent ID Center activities and the club's Festival de Futbol Femenil youth soccer tournament.

In addition to her collegiate coaching experience, Ritchie served as the head coach of SoCal Dutch Lions FC in the USL W League from 2024 to 2025. She also held leadership positions with San Diego Force FC and Vista Storm Soccer Club, where she oversaw player development and various aspects of club operations.

Ritchie has extensive experience in talent identification and recruitment. She has served as a Talent ID Scout for the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), including as a Combine Staff Coach, where she helped identify top youth and collegiate players nationally. She currently serves as a Talent ID Scout for Bay FC, where she evaluates NCAA Big Ten Conference and USL W League players for recruitment within the NWSL environment.

In 2026, Ritchie joined the U.S. Soccer Youth National Team staff as an assistant staff coach across multiple age groups. She has supported national team camps, including the U-20 camp in Chula Vista and the U-18 camp in West Palm Beach, contributing to player development, training sessions, player evaluations, tactical preparation and camp operations.

Ritchie's coaching background also includes serving as a varsity coach and program overseer at Carlsbad High School from 2018 to 2021. During her time at Carlsbad, she helped lead the program to three consecutive Open Division championships from 2018 to 2020, including an undefeated league championship in 2020. She was named Coach of the Year that season.

On the pitch, Ritchie enjoyed a professional playing career that included stints with Chelsea FC from 2010 to 2012, Santa Clarita Blue Heat, LA Strikers, and Amazon Grimstad in Norway. During her time with Chelsea FC, Ritchie was part of the club's 2011-12 Women's FA Cup finalist squad. She also served as captain of both the LA Strikers and Santa Clarita Blue Heat.

Ritchie holds a USSF A License, USSF Club Technical Leadership Level 1 Certification, and multiple coaching qualifications from U.S. Soccer, the Canadian Soccer Association, and the English Football Association.