ARCATA, Calif. -- Cal Poly Humboldt is excited to celebrate a significant milestone for its Women's Soccer program. The year 2025 will mark 30 years since the team's inception to NCAA competition, and the program is planning a year-long celebration to highlight three decades of student-athletes and coaches. Over the next year, Cal Poly Humboldt women's soccer (formerly Humboldt State University) will be profiling alumni who have both impacted the program and are making a difference in their careers and communities. This edition features former coach, Kim Sutton.
As Cal Poly Humboldt celebrates 30 years of women's soccer, we take a look back at the program's first head coach, Kim Sutton. Kim was hired in May 1995 and coached the team through the first seven years of NCAA competition.
Playing and Coaching Career before Humboldt
Sutton took her first head coaching job at Santa Rosa Junior College, guiding the Bear Cubs from 1990–94. She led the team to three conference titles and a pair of state championship matches while compiling an overall mark of 72-24-1. As a player, Sutton earned All-Northern California Athletic Conference honors at Sonoma State in 1986, and competed for Team USA on its 1987 tour of Europe and the Soviet Union. Sutton received her bachelor's degree from Sonoma State in 1989, with an emphasis in teacher preparation. She earned her master's degree in physical education with an emphasis in biochemical kinesiology from Sonoma State in 1993.
Unforgettable Moments on the Field
Among her many memorable experiences, one game stands out the most—Humboldt's thrilling victory over UC Davis in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Favorite Off the Field Memory
Coach Sutton's favorite off the field memories were all the shared backpacking trips with her players.
Reflections on her time at Humboldt
"Starting a program and coaching at Humboldt for 7 seasons was an incredible journey filled with wonderful colleagues and resilient, dedicated athletes."
Life Since Humboldt Soccer
Sutton took the head coaching job at Chico State after her seven-year stint at Humboldt from 1995-2001. She became the winningest head coach in Chico State women's soccer history. Sutton has established herself as one of the top women's soccer coaches in the nation—entering the upcoming 2025 season, she owns a 226-146-76 record in her 24 years with the Wildcats, and an overall mark of 281-188-90 in a career that has spanned four decades. Sutton has led the Wildcats to six California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) North Division crowns, 13 trips to the CCAA Tournament (winning the program's first-ever CCAA conference title in 2007) and seven NCAA Championship Tournament appearances.
