Saint Louis University head women’s soccer coach Katie Shields has announced the hiring of Megan Link as the Billikens’ associate head coach. A St. Louis-area native and Lafayette High School graduate, Link comes to SLU following four seasons as an assistant coach at Michigan State.
“We are thrilled to welcome Megan to our coaching staff,” Shields said. “She brings championship pedigree, professionalism and passion to our program. Megan has been an integral part of national and conference championships throughout her coaching career, and she will help us continue to elevate our program’s championship culture.
“Megan is widely considered one of the best collegiate goalkeeper coaches in the country, and I look forward to her impact on our goalkeepers and our entire team,” Shields said. “As a St. Louis native, she understands the special connection between our program and the St. Louis soccer community. We are so excited for her to return home and positively impact our student-athletes.”
“I am thrilled to join the Saint Louis University women’s soccer program, a team that has consistently risen to new heights on the national stage,” Link said. “I look forward to collaborating with such an outstanding coaching staff and talented players. I want to extend a thank-you to Director of Athletics Chris May, Deputy Director of Athletics Dr. Janet Oberle and head coach Katie Shields for this incredible opportunity. I am eager to not only return to my hometown, but also to contribute to the continued success of the program.”
Link served as Director of Goalkeeping and oversaw set pieces and Midwest recruiting at Michigan State. She coached Lauren Kozal, a two-time United Soccer Coaches All-American, two-time Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year and a Hermann Trophy semifinalist, and Kaitlyn Parks, an All-Conference and All-Region selection.
The Spartans reached the NCAA Championship three times during Link’s tenure, including advancement to the round of 16 in 2023 and 2024, and captured the 2022 and 2023 Big Ten regular-season crowns. The 2022 Michigan State coaching staff was selected United Soccer Coaches North Region Staff of the Year.
In two years as an assistant coach at Grand Valley State, Link coached first-team All-America goalkeeper Jessica Radice and helped guide the Lakers to the 2019 NCAA Division II national title, two Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament championships and a GLIAC regular-season title. The 2019 Grand Valley coaching staff was named the Division II Staff of the Year.
Link served as head coach at her alma mater, Southwest Baptist, from 2015-18. She led the Bearcats to a national ranking and coached players who earned All-Conference honors 16 times and All-Region plaudits twice. In one season as an assistant coach at Quincy, Link mentored All-Conference freshman goalkeeper Megan Swanson.
Link began her coaching career in 2014 as a goalkeeper coach for the Missouri Youth Soccer Association and ODP soccer. She was head coach for the U-14 Michigan Rangers top girls’ team in 2021, a member of the Michigan ODP staff from 2019-21, and Cap City goalkeeper coach for all high school-aged boys and girls from 2022-24.
In 2023, Link began a stint with the United States Soccer Federation. She was the goalkeeper coach for the U-20 National Team that competed in a CONCACAF tournament in the Dominican Republic and for the U-16 National Team that captured an international tournament title in France.
Link was a four-year starting goalkeeper and three-year team captain at Southwest Baptist. She was a second-team All-Conference performer and SBU’s Most Valuable Player as a senior and honorable mention All-Conference her first three seasons. Link is the Bearcats’ career record holder in shutouts and ranks among the program’s top three in career saves, save percentage and wins.
Link played professional soccer in 2013 for the Afturelding Football Club in Iceland’s Premier League. She received a camp invitation with the NWSL’s Houston Dash and a trial with the U-23 National Team.
Link holds a B.S. degree in biology (2013) and an M.S. degree in education-athletic administration (2017) from Southwest Baptist. She earned a United Soccer Coaches national diploma in 2018 and was selected for the organization’s 30 Under 30 Program for 2019-20.