SLU's Shields Guides Athletes to Greatness, on the Field and to Graduation
Katie Shields views her role as head coach of Saint Louis University’s women’s soccer team as being supportive of her athletes and helping them to become their best selves. It’s no wonder then she calls commencement her proudest moment each year.
“Our entire coaching staff views our role as supporting student-athletes in a 360-degree model. We believe the person drives the athlete,” Shields said. “So, understanding where each student comes from, what's important to her and what she wants out of her experience determines how we support each individual.”
Sports have always been a part of her own journey. Shields was a four-year student-athlete and team captain for the Harvard University Women’s Soccer Program.
“My parents were lifelong educators and teachers who instilled in me a love of learning, teaching and the world of academia and my amazing experience as a student-athlete was something I wanted to give others the opportunity to experience,” she said.
After graduating from Harvard in 2006, Shields spent time as an assistant coach at UC Irvine, Harvard and Northwestern before joining SLU as an assistant soccer coach in 2012. Following the 2012 season, head coach Kat Mertz left SLU to coach at the University of Oregon, and Shields was promoted to head coach.
From recruitment through graduation Shields and her team meet with each individual student-athlete on a weekly basis to help provide them with support – both academically and athletically – to find success.
“Sports is one of the greatest vehicles to educate the whole person – mind, body, spirit,” Shields said. “A piece of our program’s mission is ‘to leave the jersey in a better place than you found it.’ Which gives our women first-hand experience and training to become citizens who contribute to the greater good of society.”
Shields said one of her proudest moments as a Billiken was during the 2018 season. The Billikens won the Atlantic-10 Tournament and two of the seniors on the team scored all five of the team’s goals.
“It was a really proud moment because that group of seniors was a part of one of our first recruiting classes at SLU and they believed in our vision of building a championship program,” she said. “That senior class had finished in 13th place their freshman year in the A-10, but they trusted the process.
The entire 2018 team dealt with a significant amount of on- and off-field adversity to win the program's first championship in over a decade. It was a special day for our alumni and people who work hard to support of our program.”
Succeeding by believing in the process is a win-win.
“I think one lessons from sports that has applied to my professional life is the power of a unified vision and values,” Shields said. “The best teams I've been a part of and the best organizations in the company are those that have clarity of mission and live their values day to day.”
Learn More About Women's Soccer at SLU
Saint Louis University is a Catholic, Jesuit institution that values academic excellence, life-changing research, compassionate health care, and a strong commitment to faith and service. Founded in 1818, the University fosters the intellectual and character development of more than 13,000 students on campuses in St. Louis and Madrid, Spain. Building on a legacy of now more than 200 years, Saint Louis University continues to move forward with an unwavering commitment to a higher purpose, a greater good.
Story by Amelia Flood and Maggie Rotermund, University Marketing and Communications