Angie Knies, a former Southern Utah University (SUU) women’s soccer player and current high school coach, will join the Thunderbirds as an assistant coach, according to an April 28 announcement. The move follows the recent hiring of Steven Lindquist as head coach of the SUU women’s soccer team.
Knies is expected to start her new role in the coming months and will focus on recruiting talent for the Thunderbirds’ 2026 squad. She played for SUU for two years, appearing in 27 games and accumulating over 800 minutes on the field. Her time as a player included overcoming a significant health scare during her senior season in 2024, which threatened her ability to play but ultimately saw her return to start two games by season’s end.
“Everybody was so supportive: the staff, the school, and the trainers especially. I really appreciated that,” Knies said. “Overcoming obstacles, whether health-related or soccer-related, they were always there for me. I want to continue to do that for other people.”
Beyond her playing career at SUU, Knies began preparing for a future in coaching by learning from various training drills and practices while shaping her approach as both a coach and mentor. In January 2025 she became head coach at Mount Vernon High School after winning an application process. By August of that year she was also recruited as an assistant coach at Cornell College.
Knies has managed these coaching responsibilities alongside a full-time job—a challenge she says is outweighed by being part of her athletes’ success.
