SAN FRANCISCO – With the 2017 fall season two weeks away, Chris King has been officially named the Academy of Art women's soccer head coach. King previously served as the assistant coach during the 2016 season before being promoted to the head position this summer.
 
"I could not be more excited to take over ART U's Women's Soccer team," said King. "As a San Francisco native and someone who has coached in the greater Bay Area for a decade now, I'm honored to be able to be the head coach for an institution that is so immersed in the culture of San Francisco."
 
Prior to joining Academy of Art, King had an abundance of previous coaching experience at many levels: for six years (2009-2015), he headed multiple travel teams for the San Francisco Vikings Soccer Club while also serving as their Technical Director from 2013-2014. Starting in 2010, he also took on several other coaching responsibilities, including: Assistant Coach at City College of San Francisco (2011-2014) and SF State (2015), and was the head coach at College of Marin (2014-2015) and Sacred Heart Cathedral's women's varsity team (2010-2015).
 
King also serves as the head coach for the 02 Girls California State team for the Olympic Development Program (ODP). There, he selects the top 40 players from California clubs of which 18 travel and compete across the country. From his team, the top performers are selected to the regional and youth national teams.
 
All while juggling his coaching responsibilities, King earned a Bachelor's of Science from Cal State East Bay in Recreation.
 
King takes over for previous head coach, Katie Awerkamp who spent the last three years with the program. Awerkamp left ART U after accepting a Director of Marketing and Game Operations position at Quincy University.

"There are so many resources within this athletics department and this is such a unique opportunity to build a successful program and bring a winning culture to ART U Women's Soccer," said King. "The players here have already responded so positively and they want to do the work to make the program into what we all know it can be. I'm excited to get the season started soon and take our first steps this year towards being a winning program."