Duke Selects Kieran Hall As Next Head Women’s Soccer Coach
DURHAM, NC – Duke women’s soccer head coach Robbie Church, who has led the Blue Devils to 20 NCAA Tournament bids and three NCAA College Cup appearances over the last 23 years, announced Monday the 2024 season will be his final year of coaching. Following a national search, Kieran Hall, who is Duke’s associate head coach and enters his sixth season with the Blue Devils, has been named Church’s successor and will be the program’s third head coach beginning with the 2025 season.
CSA is grateful to have assisted Duke Vice President and Director of Athletics Nina King and the Blue Devils on this search.
One of the top young minds in collegiate soccer, Hall joined the program in 2019 and was elevated to associate head coach in June of 2020. Along with Hall taking over as the head coach following the season, he is excited to have longtime assistant coach Carla Overbeck, who enters her 33rd season with the Blue Devils, elevated to associate head coach.
“We are thrilled to name Coach Hall as Duke’s next head coach for what we expect to be a seamless, dynamic transition,” said King. “The traits Kieran possesses – namely prioritizing the student-athlete experience in conjunction with an organized plan to compete for championships – coupled with his eight-plus years at Duke make him the natural fit to succeed Coach Church. I’m excited to watch Kieran and the staff continue to push the program forward, both on and off the field.”
“I am truly honored to be the next head coach of Duke women’s soccer,” said Hall. “I want to thank Nina King and Dr. Chris Kennedy. I am humbled by this incredible opportunity and the belief you have entrusted in me. I would also like to thank Robbie Church. I am deeply grateful for your invaluable mentorship, guidance and friendship. Because of this, I feel extremely well-prepared for this opportunity. We are excited about building upon the DWS legacy of developing strong leaders and competing for championships.”
“I want to thank the administration here — Nina King, Chris Kennedy and Todd Mesibov — for coming to this decision with Kieran being named the head coach and Carla the associate head coach,” said Church. “I feel this is a natural process and it’s going to be a seamless transition. Obviously, Kieran and Carla have been involved in everything we’ve done in this program — Carla for over 30 years and Kieran for six years. They have experience in every area of our program and they’re going to do an absolutely, fantastic job continuing to elevate the program to new heights. Both Kieran and Carla are just unbelievable people and it’s exciting to see good people that work really hard to be able to get promotions like this. I know they’re going to knock it out of the ballpark and I’m excited to watch.”
Hall was a member of the Duke men’s soccer staff for three seasons, before joining the women’s staff. He helped lead the Blue Devils to the NCAA Championship all three years. Prior to arriving in Durham, Hall served as an assistant coach and director of operations at the University of Denver for a season.
A four-year starter at Fort Lewis College, Hall helped lead the Skyhawks to the 2005 NCAA Division II National Championship and the 2006 NCAA runner-up. He served as a team captain and was an all-conference and all-region selection during his time at Fort Lewis, before graduating in 2008.
KIERAN HALL QUICK FACTS
- Born: Blackburn, England
- Family: Wife – Emily Hall
- High School: Queen’s Park High School
- College: Fort Lewis College, 2008 – Business Administration
- College Playing Career:
- Four-year letterman at Fort Lewis College, 2004-07 (Played under now Stanford Head Coach and three-time NCAA DI National Champion, Jeremy Gunn)
- Represented Great Britain U-23s at two World University Games (Bangkok 2007, Belgrade 2009)
- Drafted by Houston Dynamo
- College Honors: 2005 NCAA DII National Champion, 2006 NCAA DII National Runner-Up
- Coaching Career:
- Women’s Soccer Associate Head Coach at Duke, 2020-24
- Women’s Soccer Assistant Coach at Duke, 2019-20
- Men’s Soccer Assistant Coach at Duke, 2016-18
- Director of Operations/Assistant Coach at the University of Denver, 2015-2016
- U16 Academy Coach at Levante UD (La Liga), 2014-2015
- Assistant Coach at Fort Lewis College, 2013-2014
- US Soccer Senior A and UEFA B Licensed Coach
For the full release from Duke Athletics, click HERE.
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