Alumna Courtney Howe '13 enters her sixth season as head coach of the Westminster College women's soccer program in 2026. Since taking over the Blue Jays in 2021, Howe has compiled a 38-39-11 overall record, ranking second in program history in career victories. Under her leadership, Westminster has qualified for the SLIAC Tournament in every season, highlighted by a conference tournament championship game appearance in 2022.
A standout student-athlete for the Blue Jays from 2009-12, Howe was a four-year starting goalkeeper and served as a team captain during her junior and senior seasons. She earned Team MVP honors as a senior and remains one of the program's most accomplished goalkeepers.
Following graduation in May 2013, Howe began her coaching career at her alma mater that fall, serving as an assistant coach under Jen Dyson from 2013-15. During that span, the Blue Jays posted their first winning season in a decade in 2015, finishing 10-7-2 overall and 7-2 in SLIAC play. Westminster went on to capture its first-ever SLIAC Tournament championship and earned the program's first NCAA Tournament berth.
Howe continued her coaching development at the club level, serving as an assistant coach with Sporting Columbia from 2017-18 before becoming the goalkeeper coach for United Capital City in 2019.
Later that year, Howe joined the coaching staff at William Woods University while pursuing a Master of Education degree. Working under head coach Lauren Robb, she helped guide the Owls to back-to-back winning seasons. In 2019, William Woods finished 12-9 overall and 10-2 in the American Midwest Conference, earning an at-large berth to the NAIA National Championship Tournament.
Through her first five seasons, Howe established Westminster as one of the SLIAC's most consistent programs, with postseason appearances every year while continuing to build upon the tradition she helped create as both a player and coach.
2021-22: Howe's first season as head coach saw the Blue Jays finish 7-9-1 and qualify for the SLIAC Tournament.
2022-23: Westminster posted a 10-6-4 record and advanced to the SLIAC Tournament championship match.
2023-24: The Blue Jays finished 7-8-1, earning their third consecutive SLIAC Tournament appearance.
2024-25: Westminster went 7-8-3 and reached the SLIAC Tournament semifinals.
2025-26: The Blue Jays posted an 8-7-2 record and advanced to the conference semifinals for the second consecutive season.
