Annie Stauffer joined the Kentucky Wesleyan College women's soccer coaching staff throughout a diverse career spanning collegiate coaching, mental health counseling, and athlete mental performance. She brings a unique combination of coaching experience and clinical expertise, with a passion for developing the complete student-athlete.
A former elite soccer player, Stauffer competed in the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) and represented the United States Youth Futsal National Team at the U14, U16, and U18 levels, winning five U.S. Youth Futsal National Championships and multiple regional championships. A two-time Kentucky Honorable Mention All-State and two-time All-District selection, she helped lead Daviess County High School to the 2017 KHSAA State Semifinals.
Stauffer began her collegiate career at Transylvania University, where she earned All-Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) First Team honors as a freshman after starting all 20 matches. She finished the season with five goals, three assists, 13 points, and two game-winning goals while helping lead the Pioneers and was named captain after her freshman season. She later transferred to Centre College, appearing in 20 matches with six starts, recording one goal and four assists, including an assist in Centre's Southern Athletic Association Championship victory over Rhodes. Across her collegiate career, she totaled 40 matches played, six goals, seven assists, and 19 career points.
Her experiences as an athlete inspired a passion for mental performance and athlete well-being, leading to a career dedicated to helping athletes thrive both on and off the field. Prior to joining Kentucky Wesleyan, Stauffer gained coaching experience at the youth, high school, and national levels, including serving as a coach for the U.S. Youth Futsal National Identification Camps. She has also worked as a mental health therapist, providing counseling services to adolescents and adults, and has collaborated with athletes on confidence, resilience, performance, and overall well-being through mental performance consulting.
Stauffer served as a Graduate Research Assistant in the University of Kentucky’s Sport Social Work Research Lab while pursuing her Doctorate in Sport Social Work. She earned her Master’s of Social Work from The Ohio State University and is a Certified Social Worker in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Her research focuses on student-athlete mental health, well-being, and the psychosocial aspects of sport participation.
In 2024, Stauffer was honored as a regional recipient of ESPN's Billie Jean King Youth Leadership Award, recognizing her leadership and advocacy for advancing mental health awareness and support for athletes, specifically in rural areas.
Stauffer's coaching philosophy centers on developing technically and tactically sound players while fostering confidence, resilience, leadership, and personal growth. She is committed to creating an environment where student-athletes are challenged to reach their highest potential while developing into leaders both on and off the field.
Outside of soccer, Annie enjoys spending time with her cat, Butters, collecting vinyl records, and never passes up an iced oat milk latte (especially from Niko’s Bakery, a local favorite!).
