In her first season on EKU's staff, Rachael Doyle helped lead EKU to a share of its first-ever OVC regular season crown.
The Colonels completed the largest turnaround in the NCAA in Doyle's first year, going from 4-14 in 2015 to 13-5-1 in 2016. They advanced to the OVC Tournament tile game for the first ever.
Doyle, a former Australian National Team member and Academic All-American at Washington State, was hired as an EKU assistant in July of 2016.
“We’re thrilled to have Rachael join our program and the Eastern Kentucky community,” head coach Nick Flohre said of the hire. “Rachael has played at the highest level of soccer (collegiately, professionally and internationally) and will be an invaluable resource of knowledge for our players. It’s not every day we can add a coach who has represented her country in international play. We’re lucky to have Rachael become a Colonel!”
Doyle earned a cap with the Australian National Team in August of 2007. She was also a member of the Australian U-20 Team at the Asian Football Confederation Championship that same year.
The native of Sydney played professionally for the Central Coast Mariners of Australia’s W-League from 2008 to 2009.
After wrapping up her playing career in Australia, Doyle earned a scholarship to play collegiately at Washington State. She was a four-year letter-winner (2010-14), a three-time team captain (2011-13) and a three-time second team All-Pac-12 selection (2011-13) for the Cougars.
Doyle was also a standout in the classroom during her time at WSU. She was a two-time Pac-12 All-Academic first team member (2012-13) and was voted a second team Academic All-American in 2013. She graduated summa cum laude from Washington State in 2014 with a degree in kinesiology. Her cumulative GPA was 3.96.
“I am very elated to be given the chance to coach and be part of the Eastern Kentucky University community,” Doyle said. “First and foremost, I would like to thank President Michael Benson, Director of Athletics Stephen Lochmueller and Head Coach Nick Flohre for the opportunity to be involved in the EKU’s soccer program. Nick has a strong and detailed plan for the future success of this program and I am honored to assist him and the team moving forward. I also want to thank my parents, family and friends for their enthusiasm and support of my new endeavor here in Richmond.”
Since graduation, Doyle has worked as a disability support practitioner at the Cerebral Palsy Alliance while also serving as the head coach of the North West Sydney Women’s Koalas’ U-13 team.
“Rachael possesses the work ethic, drive, passion and character that will help this program continue building toward an OVC Championship,” Flohre added. “We’ve had coaches from all of the country calling to congratulate us on adding her to the staff. It’s a sign of how well-respected she is as a player, coach and person. We’re lucky to have her working with us."
