From a short profile in the June 11th edition of the Columbia Daily Tribune
MEET THE COACH: New Rock Bridge girls soccer coach Kelly Gates has packed a lot of coaching experienced into her 25 years.
Since her senior year at Whitfield School in St. Louis, the soccer standout has been instructing in some way through camps or assistant-coaching positions.
After two years on Marc VanDover’s Rock Bridge staff, the 2004 Westminster graduate believes she’s ready for her first head-coaching gig.
“I really enjoy the girls, and there’s a lot of talent,” Gates said. “I think I’m ready to take over as head coach. It’s something I really enjoy, and it’s where I want to be.”
Gates, who holds Westminster’s all-time record for game-winning goals with nine from 1999-2002, was an assistant with the Blue Jays for two years before coming to Rock Bridge.
She’s currently a graduate student at Missouri, studying exercise physiology. Gates, who has an undergraduate degree in physical education, is a personal trainer at Wilson’s and works part-time at Boone Hospital.
Gates inherits a Rock Bridge team that loses only three seniors from a squad that finished 10-7-6 last season.
“We’ll try some different things and see how they work out and see what the team’s most successful with,” Gates said. “I like to use variety and try different drills in practice.”
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