Nichols College Athletics

Karen Gurnon begins her fourth season as the head coach of the Nichols College women's soccer program in 2020.

In 2019, the Bison posted their highest win total in nearly a decade (10) and posted the second-most shutouts in program history with seven. They ripped off a seven-match win streak – the third-longest in program history – and three student-athletes were named to the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Academic All-Conference Team.

The Bison lowered their goals against average (GAA) and allowed fewer shots in 2018 than Gurnon’s first season, and freshman Maddie Clark garnered CCC All-Conference honors. In her first season in Dudley in 2017, the Bison improved on their win total from a year ago and saw nine student-athletes named to the CCC Academic All-Conference Team. The team more than doubled its offensive output under Gurnon and increased its conference winning percentage by nearly a full point. The Bison later received the Team Academic Award from the United Soccer Coaches (USC) for the second-straight season, posting a team cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.47.

Gurnon spent the 2016 season as the head coach at nearby Newbury College, where she was also the Senior Woman Administrator, Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Advisor, and an Admissions Counselor. She guided the Nighthawks to seven wins in 2016 – a two-win improvement from the previous season – and a berth in the New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) Tournament. Gurnon saw two student-athletes receive All-NECC Honors, and the team received the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Team Academic Award for posting a team grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher.

Prior to her arrival at Newbury, Gurnon had assistant coaching stints at Division I Colgate (2014) and Albany (2015). She helped the Raiders capture the Patriot League Regular Season Championship and post a final record of 14-3-2. Gurnon worked primarily with the goalkeepers and coached the league's goalkeeper of the year, Brenna Mason, who recorded 11 shutouts in 2014.

At Albany, Gurnon was instrumental in the Great Danes posting the best record in program history (11-9-1) en route to winning their first America East Championship and advancing the NCAA Tournament. She saw three student-athletes earn All-America East honors and two more garner All-Rookie Team accolades.

Gurnon was a four-year member of the women's soccer program at the University of Connecticut (2008-12), where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in both psychology and anthropology. She appeared in 83 games for the Huskies (75 starts), guiding them to a pair of Big East Final Four appearances and two NCAA Tournaments (2009, 2010). A Dean's List student, Gurnon was a four-year member of the All-Big East Academic Team.

Upon graduating from UConn, Gurnon attended Durham University in the United Kingdom (2013-14) and earned her Postgraduate Diploma in Further Professional Studies in Education. While at Durham, Gurnon was the Women's Football First Team Graduate Assistant as well as the Second Team Assistant coach, and both were BUCS Semifinalists and league champions. Additionally, she was the head coach for the Ustinov College women's football program, which was a Floodlit Cup Semifinalist.

Gurnon cut her teeth recruiting at the collegiate level at the Disney Girls Soccer Showcase (Florida), as well as the ECNL Florida Event (Florida) and both the National League Showcase and the CASL Girls Soccer Showcase (North Carolina). She earned her NSCAA National Diploma and her NSCAA Youth Coaching – 4v4 Diploma earlier this year after scooping up her NSCAA Level 1 Goalkeeper Diploma in 2012 and her NSCAA Special Topics Diploma – Next Generation Coach the following year.

At the club level, Gurnon has coached the Northeast United Soccer Club (2011-13), the Ottawa Fury Soccer Club (2013), the Odyssey Sport Soccer Club in New York (2014-15), and FC Boston Worcester/Auburn (2015-16).

Gurnon – who represents the CCC on the United Soccer Coaches Regional Rankings Committee – resides in Worcester, Mass.

Career Record at Nichols