Photo by: Crimson Tide Photos/UA Athletics
Kat Stratton Joins Bulldogs as Volunteer Assistant Coach
February 18, 2020 | Soccer
by Brian Ogden, Assistant Director/Communications
STARKVILLE – Kat Stratton, a standout goalkeeper with SEC ties, has joined James Armstrong's staff at Mississippi State as a volunteer assistant coach working with the Bulldog keepers.
Stratton comes to Starkville from Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi, where she held the same role.
"We are thrilled to welcome Kat to our staff," Armstrong said. "Her experience playing at the highest level and passion for coaching goalkeepers will make her a great addition. Her close ties to Mississippi State make this hire even more exciting."
In addition to her goalkeeper responsibilities, she helped with scouting and game day operations at Mississippi College. The Choctaws won the 2019 Gulf South Conference championship, and goalkeeper Gabby Kayser was a D2CCA First Team All-South Region and First Team All-Gulf South selection under Stratton's tutelage.
While coaching at Mississippi College, she has also served as the goalkeeper director and head coach of the U11 and U12 squads at the Brilla JUNIORS club since August 2018.
Stratton played at the University of Alabama for five years and was named team captain as a senior. She earned Third Team All-South Region honors as a junior and finished third in the SEC in saves (91) fourth in save percentage (.805), fifth in saves per game (4.79) and seventh in both goals against average (1.14) and shutouts (5) that year.
The Tupelo, Mississippi, native finished her career second in the program record books in goals against average (1.31) and total shutouts (12), third in career wins (22), fourth in save percentage (.753) and sixth in saves (201). On Aug. 27, 2017, she posted a shutout victory over then-No. 4 Florida State for the Tide's first win against a top-10 opponent in program history.
While attending Alabama, she worked the Roll Tide Soccer Academy for three summers before offering individual skill lessons in the Birmingham area for her final semester of classes once her eligibility was exhausted.
As a club player, Stratton was selection to the Region III Olympic Development Program team for five consecutive years, traveling to Costa Rica, Germany and France for international competition. In 2009 and 2010, she earned spots on the U.S. U14 and U15 National Teams.
Mississippi State is in Stratton's blood as her mother and brothers are all alumni. Most notably, her brother Chris played baseball for the Diamond Dawgs for three years before he was selected in the first round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the San Francisco Giants. He now pitches for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
"I am very excited to join the Bulldog family," Stratton said. "I enjoyed my time playing in the SEC and now look forward to coaching at this level. The future is bright for this program, and I am happy to be a part of it."
The Bulldogs open their spring exhibition schedule on Feb. 23 at South Alabama. State returns to on Feb. 29 againstStratton's former club when they host the Choctaws at 11 a.m. CT. The Bulldogs will play a double-header that day and meet the MSU men's club team in the afternoon at 1 p.m.
For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSOC."
STARKVILLE – Kat Stratton, a standout goalkeeper with SEC ties, has joined James Armstrong's staff at Mississippi State as a volunteer assistant coach working with the Bulldog keepers.
Stratton comes to Starkville from Mississippi College in Clinton, Mississippi, where she held the same role.
"We are thrilled to welcome Kat to our staff," Armstrong said. "Her experience playing at the highest level and passion for coaching goalkeepers will make her a great addition. Her close ties to Mississippi State make this hire even more exciting."
In addition to her goalkeeper responsibilities, she helped with scouting and game day operations at Mississippi College. The Choctaws won the 2019 Gulf South Conference championship, and goalkeeper Gabby Kayser was a D2CCA First Team All-South Region and First Team All-Gulf South selection under Stratton's tutelage.
While coaching at Mississippi College, she has also served as the goalkeeper director and head coach of the U11 and U12 squads at the Brilla JUNIORS club since August 2018.
Stratton played at the University of Alabama for five years and was named team captain as a senior. She earned Third Team All-South Region honors as a junior and finished third in the SEC in saves (91) fourth in save percentage (.805), fifth in saves per game (4.79) and seventh in both goals against average (1.14) and shutouts (5) that year.
The Tupelo, Mississippi, native finished her career second in the program record books in goals against average (1.31) and total shutouts (12), third in career wins (22), fourth in save percentage (.753) and sixth in saves (201). On Aug. 27, 2017, she posted a shutout victory over then-No. 4 Florida State for the Tide's first win against a top-10 opponent in program history.
While attending Alabama, she worked the Roll Tide Soccer Academy for three summers before offering individual skill lessons in the Birmingham area for her final semester of classes once her eligibility was exhausted.
As a club player, Stratton was selection to the Region III Olympic Development Program team for five consecutive years, traveling to Costa Rica, Germany and France for international competition. In 2009 and 2010, she earned spots on the U.S. U14 and U15 National Teams.
Mississippi State is in Stratton's blood as her mother and brothers are all alumni. Most notably, her brother Chris played baseball for the Diamond Dawgs for three years before he was selected in the first round of the 2012 MLB Draft by the San Francisco Giants. He now pitches for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
"I am very excited to join the Bulldog family," Stratton said. "I enjoyed my time playing in the SEC and now look forward to coaching at this level. The future is bright for this program, and I am happy to be a part of it."
The Bulldogs open their spring exhibition schedule on Feb. 23 at South Alabama. State returns to on Feb. 29 againstStratton's former club when they host the Choctaws at 11 a.m. CT. The Bulldogs will play a double-header that day and meet the MSU men's club team in the afternoon at 1 p.m.
For more information on the Bulldog soccer program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSOC."
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