KIRKLAND – Northwest appointed April VanAssche as its fourth women's soccer head coach this week.
"I would like to welcome April to the Northwest University Eagles family," said NU Director of Athletics Gary McIntosh. "April has demonstrated the ability to develop young women into strong leaders academically, athletically, and spiritually. She has what it takes to keep this program moving forward and competing for trophies."
VanAssche racked up a 172-68-17 record as the head coach at Snohomish High School from 1998 to 2021 and picked up WIAA 3A Coach of the Year honors in 2016. Her ladies picked up four conference and three district titles, including top-eight finishes in 2010 and 2021.
“I’m very excited to be at Northwest and with the women’s soccer team,” VanAssche said. “It’s been a competitive team, and I have a chance to be a part of that at Northwest and integrate my faith and coaching, as well as help the players on and off the field.”
While at SHS, she also coached the junior varsity boys and was an assistant on the boys’ varsity team that won two state championships.
She also coached Snohomish United from 1999 to 2004 and again from 2010 to 2013. The team was a Kellogg's Bowl regional winner and earned a seed in the national tournament in 2000.
VanAssche played collegiately for Western Washington from 1996 to 1998 and semi-professionally for the Skyhawks in 2006.
She also has completed the Women in Sports Leadership Education from WIAA/GESA, holds a National Coaching C license from the United States Soccer Federation, and is a member of United Soccer Coaches.
She and her husband Jay have five children—Gracie, Madison, Annie, Trevor, and Tully.