OLYMPIA, WA – The Artesians announced Tuesday the promotion of Kellyn Green (Farrell) to helm the 2025 USL W League (USL W) team as head coach. Green is a familiar face to FC Olympia having captained the inaugural franchise year in 2023 and became an assistant coach in 2024 under now pro women’s soccer coach Ben Willis.
Raphael Cox, assistant coach at the University of Washington (UW) women’s program filled in for Willis midseason in 2024 and coached alongside Green to a Round of 8 finish in the USL W National Playoff last July. Cox has since returned to his UW duties which included the Huskies earning an NCAA tournament berth last week.
FC Olympia’s signing of Kellyn Green comes amid the Artesians tryout announcement last Sunday as well as multiple USL W League expansion teams (WS Rhodies, Salmon Bay FC) entering the Northwest Division of which FC Olympia are two-time reigning champions (2023, 2024).
“We’re thrilled to see Coach Kellyn’s rise from player to assistant coach to now the center piece of our USL W franchise” said FC Olympia owner Ryan Perkins. “Its great to have someone that connects with where the players are at in their playing careers drawing from her own playing experience.”
Coach Kellyn Green played 4 years at South Dakota State University (SDSU) when their athletic program moved to NCAA Division I classification and was a 4-year all-conference selection. Green played every position besides goalkeeper and in her senior year scored the lone goal for SDSU in the NCAA Tournament.
Post-college Kellyn played alongside United States Women’s National Team stars during her years playing with clubs like the Seattle Sounders, Colorado Rush and Real Colorado.
“One of my standout moments was playing for the Colorado Rush at a packed Starfire stadium against the Seattle Sounders Women in 2012 when they had Alex Morgan, Sydney Leroux, Megan Rapinoe and Hope Solo” said Kellyn Green on her most memorable playing experience. “We lost 2-1 but gave them a much harder game than they thought we would.”
“It was amazing to play in such a high-level game in front of so many fans” said Green. “This was prior to the start of the NWSL, so the W League was the highest level of play in the United States until the NWSL began in 2013.”
Green has played for and coached with current USL Sporting Director Chris Wells who oversees all USL operations for FC Olympia. Wells was the USL W League head coach for the Artesians in 2023 and garnered an undefeated record and the clubs first ever national playoff clinching season.
“Kellyn is going to make a great head coach” said Wells. “She has the ability to relate to the players but also demands a high level for their development. With her long history as a player, she will be a great mentor as our players are looking to continue their careers after college into the professional level. I had hoped a few years ago this would be the long term fit for the club and I’m very happy to see it come true.”
The USL W League is a nationwide pre-professional soccer season that runs May through July each year with the Northwest Division encompassing Washington and Oregon USL clubs. The USL W is designed for college athletes to have a place to compete in the summer months and elevate chances to go pro due to the pipeline network to USL Super League and the NWSL. Many pros and transitioning college to pro players find themselves playing in the league to get more time and competition on the field.
“Players can look forward to the same competitive training environment established at FC Olympia over the previous two USL W seasons” said Green on what players can expect in 2025. “They can also look forward to a training environment in which they are expected to push themselves outside of their comfort zone, play with freedom, creativity, and without fear. We not only want to win, we also want to help get our players to the next level.”
One of the most notable Artesian wins in the clubs 10-year existence was beating Marshawn Lynch-owned Oakland Soul in the bay area last July in the first round of the USL W National Playoff (2-1 Overtime Win). Green would help coach the victory against an Oakland Soul pro soccer club competing in the USL Super League in 2025.
The FC Olympia “Artesians” host future soccer stars themselves in Thurston County having had several players go pro including Kat Asman (Portland Thorns), Mariah Lee (DC Power), Kailey Utley (Lexington) and Neeku Purcell (Brooklyn FC) as well as another dozen that are playing pro overseas.
“It’s hard to put into words how much this means to me. I never thought until last season that I would love coaching this level as much as playing. This league and the previous W-League was so important to continuing my playing career after college and the reason I moved out to the Pacific Northwest with my husband over 10 years ago. -Kellyn Green (Farrell)
“Being able to lead and coach the next generation of players in a league that meant so much to me as a player is truly special. A huge thank you to FC Olympia owner Ryan Perkins for this amazing opportunity. I also cannot thank Director Chris Wells and General Manger Vanessa Crisp enough for the belief in my ability and support to take over as head coach” -Kellyn Green (Farrell)
You can follow the Artesians on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and on their website fcoly.com. Season tickets, jerseys and gear are for sale online and all proceeds roll up into paying for fields, stadiums, franchise fees, jerseys, equipment, staffing and game day experiences.
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