KENNESAW, Ga. – Sarakon joined KSU as the first assistant coach in 2020 and is entering her third year with the program.
Kennesaw State University soccer head coach Benji Walton announced the addition of Christina Sarokon to the coaching staff as the first assistant coach on Friday, Jan. 17, 2020.
"I'm extremely excited that Christina has joined our staff. She is an extremely bright coach on the rise. One of her biggest attributes is that she brings so much energy and enthusiasm to the field every time out," said Walton. "I'm excited to see how our players respond to the excitement that she brings to the game. She is a great fit to not only help develop our players, but also continue the upward growth of our team culture. I'm looking forward to working with her to continue the success we've had here at KSU."
Sarokon was the former assistant coach at Gardner-Webb University, where she helped the Runnin' Bulldogs reach the 2019 Big South Championship final. She was instrumental in four GWU players being named to the all-state team by the North Carolina Collegiate Sports Information Association (NCCSIA), five players to the Big South Conference team, and three players to the Big South All-Conference Tournament team after the Runnin' Bulldogs finished with a 10-11-1 record and a 7-3 record in Big South play.
In 2018, Sarokon was instrumental in helping senior goalkeeper Keely Brown record four additional clean sheets and extend the career record to 20. Brown made 85 stops on the year and worked exclusively with Sarokon. Gardner-Webb finished Sarokon's second year as an assistant 12-5-4 overall and was the runner-up in the Big South tournament. Seven players earned all-conference honors, led by Brown and Stina Kleepe who were first team all-Big South.
In 2017, she guided junior goalkeeper Keely Brown to the career shutout record with 16 career clean sheets. Additionally, Sarokon also helped four Runnin’ Bulldogs to all-Big South honors and a conference quarterfinal tournament appearance.
Prior to Gardner-Webb University, Sarokon was an assistant coach at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, La. where she aided in the Cowgirls' run to the 2016 Southland Conference semifinal.
Sarokon is a former US Youth Soccer East Region Olympic Development Program U13-U17 girls assistant and goalkeeper staff coach. She was also a U12 staff coach with Louisiana ODP, U15 girls assistant and goalkeeper coach with North Carolina ODP, and worked as an assistant and goalkeeper coach for both boys and girls for New York State West ODP. She is currently the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program Midwest administrator for boys and girls, in which she assists in planning and executing events, camps, training venues, and ID camps for all age groups.
Sarokon is an active member of the United Soccer Coaches Women’s Advocacy Group. In 2017, Sarokon was selected as the United Soccer Coaches Charlotte Moran Memorial Scholarship award recipient by the Charlotte Moran Scholarship Committee. “We had many high-quality applicants for the Charlotte Moran Memorial Scholarship," said Kelly Grant, Scholarship Committee Chair. "Within the group, Christina Sarokon stood out as someone with a passion for coaching and who wants to make the game even better for young females. The committee felt that Christina is exactly who Charlotte intended this scholarship to be for a coach or administrator in the beginning of their career who is committed to staying involved with the women’s game for the long term.”
The North Tonawanda, N.Y. native was a four-year letter winner at Saint Bonaventure University from 2012-2015, where she made 33 starts and finished her collegiate career ranked fifth in school history in saves (186), fifth in career goals against average (1.36), and third in single-season shutouts (5). She was named to the Atlantic 10 Conference Commissioner’s honor roll in each of her four years with the Bonnies.
Prior to her collegiate career, Sarokon was chosen as a member of the United States U14 Girls National Team player pool and played in the Nike Friendlies at the Home Depot Center with the U14 Girls National Team in 2008. She was also selected to two US National ODP team training camps in 2009 and 2010. She was a member of the Region 1 ODP team from 2006-09 and played internationally with the Region 1 ODP team in Costa Rica in 2009. Sarokon played professionally as a member of the Women’s Premier Soccer League Team Empire Revolution in 2014.
Sarokon earned a Bachelor of Science in Sports Studies and Human Development from Saint Bonaventure University in 2016. She holds the NSCAA Goalkeeper Levels I, II, and III Diplomas, NSCAA Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma, United Soccer Coaches (NSCAA) Advanced National Diploma, United Soccer Coaches (NSCAA) Premier Diploma, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) National "D" License, and the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) National “C” License.
