Brescia Alum, Graeme Abel ’04, was a big part of the U.S. Women’s National Team (WNT) World Cup Win on Sunday, July 5. Graeme, a two-time All-American soccer player and former coach at Brescia University, is currently serving as goalkeeper coach for the U.S. WNT. During his time as a student at Brescia, he was heavily involved in campus life and was a two-time Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Association Player of the Year.
During his youth soccer years, Abel was on the books at Everton FC from 1994-97. He also played with Stockport County FC from 1997-1999 before coming to the USA to attend college at Lindsey Wilson in Colombia, Kentucky. He was a NAIA All-American at Lindsey Wilson and the 1999 NAIA National Tournament MVP, leading the Blue Raiders to the national championship.
In 2001, he returned to England for half a year at Chester City FC, but then returned to college, this time at Brescia University where he was once again an NAIA All-American and the two-time Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Association Player of the Year.
In 2004, he started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Brescia following his graduation. He eventually went on to work three years at the University of Nevada, as well as served three seasons as a member of the University of Oklahoma Women’s Soccer staff and was promoted to associate head coach during the 2013 offseason.
He returned to Norman in 2012 to serve as an assistant after serving as the OU goalkeeper coach during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. During the 2010 and 2011 campaigns, Abel worked with the current Sooner head coach Matt Potter at Washington State.
Abel served three seasons as a member of the University of Oklahoma Women’s Soccer staff and was promoted to associate head coach during the 2013 offseason.
Graeme Abel joined U.S. head coach Jill Ellis staff as the goalkeeper coach in March of 2015. Abel has worked extensively with the USA’s youth Women’s National Teams and has previously helped train the senior team goalkeepers in several camps.
Abel has a USSF “B” Coaching License and NSCAA Advanced National Diploma. He currently resides in Norman, Oklahoma, with his wife Katie and his one-year old son, Kian.
Under his coaching, Hope Solo, the goalkeeper for the U.S. WNT has become known as the world’s best goalkeeper, earning her the Golden Glove award in addition to the team’s World Cup title.
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