University of Portland Women's Soccer

Maite Zabala joined the women’s soccer staff as an assistant coach in January of 2018. Zabala, a standout collegiate and professional goalkeeper, came to The Bluff with 16 years of coaching experience and she spent the previous three years at Boise State.   “We are very fortunate to have the opportunity to bring a coach on staff with the playing and coaching experience of Maite,” French said. “Her knowledge of the collegiate landscape, and her tactical understanding of not only the goalkeeper position but the game in general, will be a huge benefit to the program. Maite’s overall character is first-class, and I know the entire community at the University of Portland will love her!”   “I want to thank coach French and the University of Portland for the giving me the chance to be a part of a staff of such a historically important program in women's collegiate soccer,” said Zabala. “I am humbled by the opportunity and look forward to working in collaboration with the rest of the staff, in investing time and effort, in bringing coach French's vision to fruition here at Portland.” As the primary goalkeeper coach, Zabala has been crucial in cultivating one of the best defenses in college soccer. In the 2023 fall season, Zabala and the Pilots led the West Coast Conference in goals-against average (.529), save percentage (.839) and shutout percentage (.647). That shutout percentage total was good for second in the nation, and the team GAA ranked ninth. Four of the past seven seasons the Pilots have led the conference in save percentage, including each of the past three seasons. Pilot goalkeeper Bre Norris also became the first Pilot in program history to be named the WCC Goalkeeper of the Year 2023 and repeated in 2024, and ahead of the 2024 season she was named to the MAC Herman Watch List. In 2024, Norris broke the program record for career saves, finishing her career at 279 saves. Norris was signed to NWSL side Angel City FC in 2025. Jenny Wahlen, a former Pilot goalkeeper who played from 2019-23, took the leap to the next level and is currently playing pro for Swedeish side Sandvikens IF.   With the Broncos, Zabala oversaw the development of Boise State's netminders and defense, helping the team post a league-best goals-against average of 0.95 last season. The Broncos posted their best winning percentage ever last fall going 13-6-3 overall, while claiming six shutouts. In 2016, Zabala guided keeper Janelle Flores to first-team all-conference honors, the first such accolade in program history. Flores also collected a school-record 18 shutouts during her career.   Prior to her stint at Boise State, Zabala spent eight seasons at San Francisco, first joining the staff as an assistant coach in 2007 before being elevated to associate head coach in 2011. Zabala assisted with every aspect of the USF program, which included overseeing goalkeeping training, development and talent identification. The Dons increased their number of shutouts during each of Zabala’s final five seasons on The Hilltop, and goalkeeper Madalyn Schiffel earned a pair of All-WCC honors with Zabala on the staff. Schiffel would go on to graduate as one of the top goalkeepers in USF women’s soccer history, and she was drafted by the Washington Spirit in the NWSL Draft.   Previously Zabala was an assistant coach at California-Berkeley, her alma mater, for three seasons (2004-07), and was a volunteer assistant for two seasons (2001-03) before that. During her tenure in Berkeley, Zabala mentored goalkeeper Ashley Sulprizio, who ranked ninth among 2005 Division I leaders in goals-against average at 0.47, which was the second-best mark in school history. Zabala also worked with Anna Key, who posted a 0.75 GAA with seven shutouts. Key earned the 2006 Wooden Cup, presented to one intercollegiate athlete and one professional athlete who best display character, teamwork, and citizenship.   As a student-athlete at Cal from 1997-2000, Zabala emerged as the Bears’ all-time leader for career shutouts (26.5) and career saves (277). Zabala finished the 2000 season with the 10th best goals-against average among Division I leaders at 0.64, while boasting 9.5 shutouts. She recorded a 0.90 career GAA in 6,295 minutes of action.   Zabala garnered four All-Pac-10 honors, including first-team recognition as a sophomore and junior, and received the Bears’ team MVP award during her final two campaigns. She led the Bears to three NCAA Tournament berths (1998, '99 and '00), the program's only Pac-10 title in 1998, and a school-record 17 wins in 2000. She was inducted into the Cal athletics Hall of Fame in 2011.   Following her collegiate career, Zabala was a first-round pick in the Women's United Soccer Association by the Atlanta Beat. She played professionally for four seasons, spending three in the WUSA before rounding out her career with Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Super Liga. During her offseasons, Zabala was a volunteer assistant coach at Cal.   A native of Boise, Idaho, Zabala earned her bachelor's degree in political science from Cal in 2001 and currently holds a USSF "A" license.  

Tina Frimpong Ellertson is a co-associate head coach for the Portland Pilots, having been promoted to the position ahead of the 2024 fall season. She originally joined the Pilots as an assistant coach in 2023, helping guide them to a 10-4-3 overall record for their best winning percentage (.676) since 2013. It was also the first time the Pilots have had back-to-back seasons of at least 10 wins or more since that same year.   Frimpong Ellertson joins the Pilots after spending three years as an assistant at the University of Washington, helping guide her alma-mater to a 26-18-11 record over three seasons while developing five All-Pac-12 players during her tenure, including 2020-21 All-American Summer Yates and 2020-21 First Team All-Pac-12 performer Ameera Hussen. The Huskies also made the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament her first season as a coach in the 2020-21 spring season.   Frimpong Ellertson's coaching career extends beyond the collegiate level. Over the last ten years, she has been an assistant with several US Soccer youth national teams and has also worked as a talent identification scout for US Soccer. She was the coach for King's Way High School for six years, earning Coach of the Year honors in 2017, and coached at Salmon Creek Soccer Club for more than a decade. Frimpong Ellertson served as the Portland Thorns Academy U17 coach as well for two seasons.   The Washington native is a legendary player in her own right, with experience at the collegiate, professional and international level. Playing for Washington collegiately, Frimpong Ellertson was a two-time Pac-10 Player of the Year in 2003 and 2004 and is still the school's all-time leading scorer in both points (99) and goals (43). She helped lead the Huskies as far as the Elite Eight and was inducted to the Pac-12 Conference Hall of Fame in 2022.   After college, Frimpong Ellertson played professionally in both the Women's Professional Soccer and the National Women's Soccer League and was a part of the Portland Thorns squad that won the inaugural 2013 NWSL Championship. She also received 34 caps with the United States Women's National Team. In coming to Portland, Frimpong Ellertson joins her daughter, MacKenzie Frimpong Ellertson, who is using her final year of eligibility here on The Bluff.   Coach French on the addition of Frimpong Ellertson:   "Tina has an unwavering dedication and spirit that is not only inspiring but exceptionally contagious. Her energy is matched by her competitive nature as an athlete, which can easily be seen by the success and accolades she received as a player both collegiately and internationally. We are not only adding an incredible coach and mentor in Tina; we are also adding an outstanding and humble human being that believes in supporting student-athletes in all facets of life.   Without a doubt, her impact, involvement, and influence on the culture, team and program in general will be immediate. We know how fortunate we are to be adding Tina and her entire family to our Pilot Crew and the UP community as a whole!"   Coach Frimpong Ellertson on joining the Pilots:   "I am humbled to have the remarkable opportunity to join the University of Portland women's soccer coaching staff.  Working alongside and being part of an incredibly hardworking staff in Frenchie, Maite and Logan is truly an opportunity of a lifetime.   The program's dedication to cultivating strong values, teamwork and a winning mentality has resulted in numerous conference championships, deep runs in national tournaments and the development of exceptional players who have gone on to succeed at the highest levels. I am honored to be part of this legacy, and I am eager to contribute to the ongoing tradition of excellence.    I am truly excited to have the opportunity to work with such exceptional talent at the University of Portland. The caliber of players here is remarkable, and I am eagerly looking forward to joining forces with them. The energy, dedication and sheer passion this team brings to the game is incredibly inspiring.    I am pumped to make The University of Portland my new home and am so grateful for the opportunity!"

Ken Krolicki joined the Portland Pilots women’s soccer program as an assistant coach ahead of the 2024 fall season. In his first season, Krolicki helped guide four players to All-WCC honors. Two players were also selected for the All-Region team, while six Pilots garnered CSC Academic All-District honors. In his second season, Krolicki played a key role in leading the Pilots to a 10-3-6 overall record and a 7-1-3 mark in conference play, including an undefeated record in away matches. Notable results included a 1-0 victory at Pepperdine and a 0-0 draw against No. 4-ranked USC on the road, with the Pilots becoming the first team to hold the Trojans scoreless since 2023. The team finished second in the WCC, marking its highest conference finish since 2013. That season, Krolicki helped five players earn All-WCC recognition and four players earned All-Region recognition, while five Pilots earned CSC Academic All-District Team honors. Prior to joining Portland, Krolicki served as an assistant coach with Yale men’s soccer. During his tenure, the Bulldogs posted an 11-6-3 record, including a 3-1-3 mark in Ivy League play finishing 2nd in the league, and qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019. Yale advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament with a win over No. 16 Bryant. Krolicki also contributed to individual player success at Yale, with three players earning Ivy League honors and selection to the All-Region team, while five Bulldogs earned Academic All-District honors. As a player, Krolicki competed professionally in both Major League Soccer (MLS) and the USL Championship. At CF Montréal, where he was a Rookie of the Year candidate in his debut season and helped the club win the Canadian Championship, securing a place in the CONCACAF Champions League. He also spent time with Portland Timbers and Portland Timbers 2, serving as team captain. In Melbourne, Australia, he was part of a Bentleigh Greens team that reached the Quarter-Finals of the national Australia Cup and won the Dockerty Cup, one of the oldest competitions in Australia. Krolicki played college soccer at Michigan State, appearing in 81 matches. He earned All-Big Ten honors three times and All-Region honors twice, helping lead the Spartans to the NCAA Tournament Quarter-Finals in 2014 and 2017 as a No. 3 and No. 7 seed, respectively, along with a top-25 finish in the United Soccer Coaches in three of four seasons. A standout in the classroom, Krolicki was named an Academic All-American in 2017 and was a four-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, graduating from the College of Engineering. Portland Head Coach Michelle French on Krolicki: "We are thrilled to welcome Ken to our University of Portland women's soccer staff. Ken will be an outstanding addition to our program as he brings a unique level of knowledge and expertise from both his playing and coaching experience. He is a fantastic addition to our staff as we continue to guide student-athletes on their respective paths to success, not only in their professional careers in soccer, but in life after athletics as well."   Ken Krolicki on joining the Pilots: "I would like to thank Michelle for giving me the opportunity to take this important role in one of the most successful programs in NCAA soccer. I would also like to express my gratitude to Yale University for an amazing experience. My time there will never be forgotten, and I wish the best for the program as they move forward. University of Portland is a special place and I'm very excited to get started."