CIU Adds Women’s Soccer

CIU Adds Women’s Soccer

CIU Women's Soccer Coach Kara Farnsworth

Columbia International University (CIU) is adding women’s soccer to its roster of intercollegiate sports beginning in fall 2015. In preparation, CIU has announced the hiring of Kara Farnsworth as head coach who will begin to organize the program July 15.    

Farnsworth is coming from Colorado Christian University in Lakewood, Colorado where she served as an assistant to the women’s soccer team under Head Coach Renee Lopez.  Farnsworth played collegiate soccer at Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, New York where she was a four-year starter. She also served the team as captain for one year and as the chaplain for two years.

Farnsworth also volunteers and coaches at the Renee Lopez Academy and the Broomfield Soccer Club, both in Colorado, as well as with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA).

CIU Athletics Director Kim Abbott says hiring the first coach for a new program is a critical decision. 

“This is Kara’s first head coaching opportunity, and with that comes her energy, excitement, and God-focused objective, all a perfect fit,” Abbott said. “Most of all, we want people at CIU who feel God’s affirming hand in their decision, and Kara is that person for us.”

As for Farnsworth, she says she is “thrilled” to be called on to build the women’s soccer program at CIU.

“I am incredibly thankful and blessed to be joining the CIU family where a women’s soccer program can be built that is both competitive and honoring to God,” Farnsworth said.

The CIU Rams play in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). The CIU athletics program began in 2012 and includes men’s soccer, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country and men’s and women’s track.

For more on CIU athletics go to: http://www.ciuathletics.com/.