NEWS: SOUTHERN ARIZONA LOSES WOMEN'S SOCCER PIONEER

Photo courtesy FC Tucson

SOCCER COMMUNITY MOURNS THE LOSS OF FORMER WPSL PLAYER AND COACH, KELLY PIERCE

Kelly Pierce, a former Women’s Premier Soccer League player and Coach of the Year recipient for FC Tucson passed away unexpectedly August 1. Pierce was 44. She is survived by her sons, Tyler Angelly (22), Brady Kearnes (17), and Camden Kearnes (14).

Preliminary reports list cardiac arrest as the cause of death. 

Pierce was a standout player and captain of FC Tucson’s WPSL teams from 2013-2018. She contributed to the sides two division titles in 2013 and 2018. She was also a four-year starter at Salpointe Catholic High School, where she earned All-State honors while winning back state championships in 1998 and 1999. She also played for Pima Community College and the Sonoran Thunder in the 2002 and 2003 WPSL seasons. 

Pierce took over as head coach of FC Tucson in 2019. Her FC Tucson side won the Desert Conference in 2021, earning her conference Coach of the Year honors. 

“Kelly was a talented and charismatic leader both as a player and coach,” Jon Pearlman, FC Tucson founder, president, and CEO said on the club website. “She was committed to elevating not just women’s soccer but all women’s sports as a champion for gender equality. Most importantly, Kelly was a devoted mother and fierce advocate for not just her children or young female soccer players, but all children. The FC Tucson community and Southern Arizona soccer community collectively mourns this tragic loss.” 

Pierce also coached at her alma mater, Salpointe Catholic High School leading the school to six 4A Arizona state championships in eight years. 

Along with her three sons, Pierce is survived by her partner, Joey Bernier, brothers Jeff and Donald Pierce, and mother, Donna Nagore Pierce. 

The southern Arizona soccer community established a GoFundMe page to help Pierce’s three sons. 

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