Metropolitan State University of Denver Women's Soccer

Katie Hooker was named the head coach of the MSU Denver women's soccer program on March 31, 2025, bringing with her more than two decades of coaching and playing experience at the collegiate, professional, and club levels. Hooker spent 19 years with the University of Denver women’s soccer program, including 12 seasons as a full-time assistant coach and five as a volunteer assistant. During her tenure, she helped guide the Pioneers to 11 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a run to the Sweet 16, and 11 conference championships. Her time at DU shaped her into a well-rounded leader with experience in all aspects of collegiate coaching—recruiting, budgeting, scheduling, travel logistics, player development, academic support, and on-field training. In addition to her collegiate coaching career, Hooker has made a significant impact in Colorado's youth soccer community, coaching at Skyline Soccer Association from 2022 to 2025. Her deep roots in Colorado and connections within the local and national soccer scene position her well to recruit top talent and foster a competitive, supportive environment for Roadrunner student-athletes. A former professional player, Hooker competed in the top domestic women’s leagues, suiting up for Sky Blue FC of the WPS in 2009—helping the club to a league championship—and for the San Jose CyberRays of the WUSA in 2003. Her collegiate playing career included two seasons at Iowa State (1999–2000) and two at the University of Denver (2001–2002). A Bakersfield, California native, Hooker earned her bachelor’s degree in statistics from the University of Denver in 2004. She maintains strong relationships with notable figures in the sport, including former Roadrunners head coaches Adrianne Almaraz Pietz and Danny Sanchez, both of whom played key roles in her own development as a coach and player. Driven by a passion to give back to the game, Hooker is committed to developing student-athletes on and off the field, creating a culture of excellence, resilience, and joy in the MSU Denver program.

Veteran NCAA Division I head coach and assistant Kat Mertz was named head coach of the MSU Denver womens soccer program on May 14, 2021.   Mertz had been an assistant coach at Oklahoma since January, 2020, after previous stints as a head coach at Oregon, Saint Louis and UNLV. She participated in nine NCAA Tournaments as a coach while compiling a record of 102-122-36.   She also has 12 years of experience coaching in the U.S. Womens National Team program.   While coaching Oregon from 2013 through 2019 led the Ducks to program-high No. 14 RPI ranking during the 2018 season and to a 47-74-13 overall record, including 30-39-8 over her last four seasons.   She was the head coach at Saint Louis for the 2012 season, leading the Billikens to a 5-9-3 record, before taking the head coaching position at Oregon.   Prior to Saint Louis, Mertz was an assistant coach at Texas in 2010 and 2011, helping the Longhorns to the NCAA Tournament both seasons. While head coach at UNLV from 2005 through 2009, Mertz compiled a 50-39-19 record and led the Rebels to NCAA Tournament berths in 2005 and 2006 after winning Mountain West Conference Tournament titles. She was also named Mountain West Coach of the Year after leading the Rebels to the regular season league crown in 2007. In 2005 Mertz's first season as head coach UNLV set school records for wins and fewest goals allowed. The program earned its first national ranking in 2008. Mertz coached 17 all-conference performers at UNLV, including MWC Co-Offensive Player of the Year and three all-region honorees. She was an assistant coach at UCLA from 2000 through 2004, helping the Bruins reach the round of 16 in each of her five seasons, including NCAA College Cup appearances in 2000, 2003 and 2004. UCLA won three Pacific-10 Conference championships during her stay there.   She was an assistant coach at Virginia in 1999. A member of the U.S. Womens National Teams U-20, U-19 or U-18 coaching staffs from 2007 to 2016, Mertz helped lead the U-20 squad to the 2008 FIFA World Cup title. She was also an assistant coach for the U-15 team in its inaugural season in 2004. Mertz served as head coach of the Olympic Development Program Region IV '94 age group team and was the ODP Region IV assistant director of goalkeeping from 2004 to 2010. As a player, Mertz was a goalkeeper at North Carolina State from 1994 through 1997, where she helped the Wolfpack qualify for three NCAA Tournaments and reach the 1995 national quarterfinals. She started 88 of a possible 90 matches and set school records for saves in a career (436) and a season (135 in 1994) while posting 24 career shutouts. Following her collegiate career, Mertz played two seasons for the Raleigh Wings, a W-1 (top tier) team in the United Soccer Leagues W-League. Mertz earned a bachelors degree from North Carolina State in natural resources, ecosystem assessment in 1998. She holds a United States Soccer Federation "A" national coaching license and a National Soccer Coaches Association of America Advanced National Diploma. She is also a member of WeCOACH, an organization dedicated to the recruitment, advancement and retention of women coaches of all sports and levels. Mertz and her wife Erica have a son, Jackson, and a daughter, Blake.  

Metro State University of Denver Assistant Coach Womens Soccer, Head Soccer Coach at Real Colorado Soccer for 2009 Olympico. Regis Jesuit High School: Assistant Girls Varsity Coach and Head  JV Coach 2011 to current 

Andrew Sanchez joined the MSU Denver Roadrunners women's soccer coaching staff as an assistant coach in February, bringing a strong playing background and early coaching experience to the program. A native of Broomfield, Colorado, Sanchez, 23, returns to the Front Range after a decorated collegiate and pre-professional career. He and his wife, Julia, have one son, Jack. Sanchez began his collegiate career at Vanguard University Lions men's soccer, where he appeared in 15 matches as a freshman during the 2021–22 season and recorded three assists.  He helped the Lions capture both the regular-season and tournament titles in the Golden State Athletic Conference, advancing to the NAIA Sweet 16. In 2022, Sanchez competed with Orange County FC in the United Premier Soccer League, helping the club claim the 2022 Spring UPSL National Championship. He later transferred to UCCS Mountain Lions men's soccer, where he appeared in 34 matches across three seasons (2022–25), scoring four goals. During his tenure, the Mountain Lions captured their first-ever Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships in 2025. Sanchez played a key role in helping the program reach the NCAA Tournament three times, including a Sweet 16 appearance. Sanchez also gained coaching experience during his playing career, serving as an assistant coach for FC Frederick of the Women's Premier Soccer League in 2023. At the pre-professional level, he competed for Flatirons FC in USL League Two from 2024–25, appearing in 25 matches over two seasons and helping the club secure its first Mountain Division championship in 2024. Sanchez now begins his coaching career at MSU Denver, adding championship experience at multiple levels to the Roadrunners’ women’s soccer staff.

Amanda Raso joined the MSU Denver staff as an assistant coach in January, 2024. Raso had spent the previous four seasons as the head coach of Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference rival Western Colorado, establishing several program milestones while leading the Mountaineers.Prior to Western Colorado, Raso had been an assistant coach at North Dakota for two seasons, helping the Fighting Hawks to their most successful season in their Division I era. She was an assistant coach at her alma mater, Fort Lewis, for three seasons, from 2015 through 2017, where she was in charge of the teams goalkeepers. Prior to that Raso was a graduate assistant coach at Midwestern State (Texas) in 2014. Raso was a goalkeeper at Fort Lewis from 2010 through 2013, compiling a career record of 26-7-6 with 11 shutouts, an 0.97 goals-against average and a .764 save percentage, and she ranks fourth in Skyhawk history in wins. She played for teams that were a combined 62-16-9, reached the 2010 national quarterfinals and were ranked as high as No. 2 during the 2012 season. She is a Colorado Native & graduate of Smoky Hill High School.