by Riley Bauling
Daily Lobo
The UNM women's soccer team might not have any All-American players on its roster, but there will be an all-star joining them as a coach next season.
Kristen Graczyk, a two-time All-American in 2003 and 2004 at the University of Connecticut, has signed on as a graduate assistant coach with the Lobos.
She will be the second assistant coach behind Jorge Vela, head coach Kit Vela's husband.
Graczyk, a 2005 graduate, said Vela wants her to play with the team every day, evaluating from within what can be changed.
"Basically they were looking for someone to come in with experience," Graczyk said. "I can bring some competition to the team and I'm going to play a hands-on role."
She said her initial plans were to play professionally in the Women's United Soccer Association. The league, however, folded in 2004, and Graczyk said she had to find something else to do.
"This was the first chance I had, so I took it," she said. "I could have had another year of school with my scholarship and gone to graduate school at UConn, but I thought this was a good opportunity, and it's something I want to pursue."
Graczyk said she has thought about coaching in the future, but isn't settled on whether it's something she wants to continue.
"I really want to play professionally still, and I really want to try and go to law school after this too," she said. Graczyk was born and raised in Albuquerque and graduated from La Cueva High School in 2001. She graduated from the UConn with a degree in sports marketing, and she said she intends to pursue a graduate degree in sports administration at UNM.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Graczyk said she's especially excited to come back to UNM because she'll finally get to watch her little brother Michael Graczyk play goalkeeper for the Lobo men's soccer team.
"I think it's going to be exciting," Graczyk said. "I'm glad I didn't stay here because it was good to get away for four years, but I'm happy to be back. Coaching and school will be a lot different, but I'm looking forward to it."
Graczyk led the Huskies in scoring during all four seasons that she played with the team, and left the team as UConn's all-time leader in points scored in NCAA tournament play.
She was a four-time all-Big East Conference player and Big East Offensive Player of the Year in 2003.
She was a member of the Under-21 U.S. national team and was voted the U.S. women's collegiate MVP by Soccer America Magazine 2003.
