Katie Talbert has been the head coach of the women’s soccer team since 2006. During the past nine seasons, she has coached 10 All-Region players, two NCCSIA All-State players, one Daktronics All-Southeast Region First Team player, 27 all-conference players, two freshmen of the year, and five Queens Student-Athletes of the Year. Talbert has led the team to one conference tournament championship final, two conference tournament quarterfinal appearances, and their first ever NCAA Division II Women’s Soccer Championship appearance. Additionally, she has helped the Royals capture two regular-season titles, and Queens has qualified for the conference tournament every season under her leadership.
In 2014, the team earned the NSCAA Team Academic Award with an overall GPA of 3.17. Talbert guided the team in eight shutouts, and once again led them to the Bronze NSCAA Ethics Award as well as the SAC Fair Play Statistical Award for the second consecutive year. During the 2013 season, Talbert coached the team to a NSCAA Top 25 national ranking for the first time in her tenure at Queens. The team was also consistently ranked in the NSCAA and NCAA top 10 regional polls. Adding to the success, she led the team in a win over a 22nd nationally ranked Wingate team, 3-2. Additionally, three players were named to the NSCAA Southeast All-Region Team, Ashley Osiecki, Brooke Foil, and Caitlyn Rodrigues. Rodrigues and Osiecki would also later be named to the NSCAA All-State team, while Rodrigues took home the SAC Freshman of the Year award for her spectacular performance over the course of the season. Talbert finished the season with a 10-6-3 overall record after going 5-4-2 in conference play. The team would be awarded the silver NSCAA Ethics Award as well as the South Atlantic Conference Statistical Fair Play Award at the end of the conference season.
In 2008, Talbert helped Queens to an undefeated conference season for the first time since the 1997-1998 season. It was also the season where the Royals captured part of the Conference Carolinas regular season title. The Conference Carolinas undefeated streak extended back to Oct. 18, 2007, for a total of 17 games without a conference loss. For the second time in her tenure at Queens, Talbert was named the Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year by her peers. Her players were awarded six all-conference selections, two regional selections, one player of the week, and one all-tournament selection. In addition, a women’s soccer players was named Queens’ InterCon Student-Athletes of the Month twice, and senior Mary-Ashley Davino was chosen as Queens’ Female Student-Athlete of the Year, Murphy Osborne Finalist and the conference’s NCAA Women of the Year nominee.
Talbert guided the team to its first-ever NCAA appearance after capturing the Conference Carolinas Tournament Championship in dramatic fashion in 2007. The Royals played the three opponents, Barton, Pfeiffer and Belmont Abbey, to penalty kick shoot-outs and went a perfect 15-15 to snag its first conference tournament title since 1996. By the end of the year, Talbert’s players were recognized with one all-conference second team nod, three conference honorable mention recognitions, one player of the week honor, the Conference Carolinas Tournament Most Valuable Player and four all-tournament team selections.
Completing her first season here, Talbert led the 2006 team to its first Carolinas Virginia Conference (CVAC) Championship since 1995. Finishing out the season with a 12-4 regular season record and an overall 14-5 record, this was a significant improvement from the previous season's record of 7-9-1. Under Talbert, the Royals were ranked as high as fifth in the region and maintained an eight-game winning streak during the 2006 season.
Proudly representing themselves as the 2006 CVAC Champions, the Queens University of Charlotte women's soccer team received four all-conference player recognitions and one all-southeast region first team player. The CVAC also honored two players of the week awards to two outstanding freshman players. The accomplishments of Talbert's 2006 season were recognized by her peers as she received the 2006 CVAC Coach of the Year Award. Queens was also recognized in 2006 by the NCAA as one of the top 20 most improved Division II programs, tying for 13.
Talbert, a Danville, Va., native, completed her 2005-2006 season with the Averett University Cougars. She led the women’s soccer team to its best season in program history with eight wins. Equally impressive was her ability to lead a winless lacrosse team prior to the 2006 season to a 9-7 finish. As a result, the Cougars made their first appearance in the USA South Conference Tournament Semifinals under Talbert. She was named the USA South Conference Coach of the Year, as well as the Virginia State College Division Coach of the Year for lacrosse.
Talbert, a Pfeiffer University graduate in economics, was a three-year letter winner on the women's soccer team from 2000-2002. In 2000, she helped lead the Falcons to a 10-1 CVAC finish and a first place finish in the league. Talbert also played one season of lacrosse for the Falcons, posting a 6-8 overall record against a schedule that included nine nationally ranked opponents. Topping off her three-year collegiate career, Talbert studied abroad in Jaen, Spain for her senior year and graduated early.
While at Averett University, Talbert completed her master’s degree in education. Additionally, the NCAA selected Talbert to participate in the highly prestigious Women's Coaches Academy in 2005. An Academy graduate, she was selected in 2006 to return to the NCAA's "Dimension 2" Conference. The 25 that are selected each year are chosen on a national basis and are a cross representation of all divisions and all sports.
In addition to her Queens team, Talbert worked with the Charlotte United Fútbol Club from 2007-2013. She is currently the assistant coach for the ‘98 North Carolina Olympic Development Program after having previously coached on the staff of the ’92 and ’96 ODP state teams.
Talbert holds a State Goalkeeping Diploma and a USSF National D license. Additionally, Talbert is in her third year representing the conference on the NCAA Division II Southeast Region Advisory committee.
