Kat Mertz
Women's Head Coach
UC Davis Director of Athletics announced Kat Mertz as the program’s fifth head women’s soccer coach.
With over two decades of success at both the NCAA Division I and II levels, Mertz brings a wealth of experience and leadership to UC Davis, along with a proven track record within the Mountain West Conference (MWC). Mertz arrives in Davis after leading a transformative run as head coach at NCAA Division II MSU Denver, where she guided the Roadrunners to a 39-20-19 record over four seasons, including a 28-12-8 mark in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) play.
The highlight of Mertz's time at MSU Denver was leading the Roadrunners to the NCAA Tournament this past season, marking the program's return to postseason soccer after a decade-long absence. Mertz led the Roadrunners to winning seasons all four years at the helm, while also having an undefeated home record through her first two years, establishing MSU Denver as one of the most challenging environments in NCAA Division II women's soccer.
Individually, under Mertz's leadership, 23 athletes earned RMAC first, second, and honorable mention team honors. Four players were named to the All-Region team, and two to the COSIDA Academic All-District Team in 2021 and 2022. Additionally, 45 players were recognized on the RMAC Academic Team, including six on the RMAC First Team All-Academic Team from 2021 to 2023.