Adam Kleman joined the EKU soccer staff as an assistant coach in June of 2018.
Kleman came to EKU following four seasons as an assistant coach at Ohio Valley Conference rival Southeast Missouri (2014 to 2017).
Before arriving in Cape Girardeau, Kleman was a graduate assistant on EKU’s staff for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
“EKU soccer is thrilled to have Adam joining our program,” head coach Nick Flohre said. “Having spent the last six years within the Ohio Valley Conference – four as an assistant coach at SEMO, and two as a graduate assistant here at EKU – Adam knows the conference extremely well. He knows the recruiting landscape of this region and he knows Eastern Kentucky University. Our players and coaching staff are happy to welcome Adam back to Richmond!”
Kleman served as Southeast Missouri’s goalkeepers coach, and he handled administrative tasks, team travel, meals, compliance, and recruiting while assisting in overall player development.
In his first season at SEMO, Kleman helped guide the Redhawks to their fifth OVC title. Kleman mentored freshman goalkeeper Kindra Lierz that season. Lierz went on to be the first player in league history to earn both OVC Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors. Lierz also earned first team All-OVC and All-Newcomer accolades. The Redhawks led the OVC in goal allowed (0.71), goals against average (0.70), and shutouts (8) in 2014.
Kleman’s work with the goalkeepers lent to Southeast recording 11 shutouts in 2015, his second season with the program. The Redhawks finished the 2015 campaign with an 0.93 goals against average and an 80.7% save percentage. SEMO’s 0.93 goals against average and 1.00 goals allowed per game each ranked third in the league while its 11 shutouts ranked first.
The 2016 season featured seven shutouts of the Redhawks’ opponents. The campaign was highlighted by a season-opening 1-0 shutout of Southeastern Conference opponent Tennessee. The Redhawks began the season 6-0-1, five coming by way of shutout. The Redhawks’ 18 goals allowed ranked third-best in the OVC as did their 0.95 goals against average.
SEMO continued to be one of the top defensive teams in the OVC in 2017, ranking third in the league in goals-against average (0.91) and shutouts (7).
“As a former competitor, Adam has scouted and recruited against Eastern Kentucky in an effort to exploit our weaknesses, and I welcome his unique perspective of our program,” Flohre added.
During his tenure at EKU, Kleman was responsible for on-field coaching, off-campus recruiting, travel arrangements and video editing. He was part of the memorable 2012 season, in which the Colonels set then-program records for wins (10), conference victories (6), goals (22), assists (18), points (62) and shots (253). EKU posted an undefeated home record (8-0-1) for the first time in school history that season, and had three players selected first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference, the most in program history.
A native of Elida, Ohio, Kleman competed collegiately as a defender at Transylvania University (2004-07). The Pioneers posted a 56-10-13 record during his career, won four consecutive Heartland Conference titles and advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2007.
Kleman earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Transylvania in 2008 and a master’s degree in Sports Administration from Eastern Kentucky in 2013.
He and his wife, Bo, have one daughter, Journey.
