OREM — Utah Valley University women's soccer assistant coach Nuno Gourgel has been named the head coach at St. Edward's University in Austin, Texas.
Gourgel spent the 2025 season with the Wolverines, helping lead Utah Valley to a Western Athletic Conference regular season championship with an unbeaten 9-0-1 league record and a 14-5-3 overall mark. The Wolverines earned an at-large berth into the NCAA Tournament, where the team dropped a 2-1 double overtime decision at No. 12 Colorado in the opening round.
"I'm grateful for my time with Utah Valley women's soccer and the opportunity to work alongside Chris Lemay, Syd Bushman, the rest of the staff, and the entire athletic department," said Gourgel. "Being part of such a historic season is something I will always carry with me. The relationships, standards, and memories built here have meant a great deal, and I'm incredibly thankful for the role this program has played in my journey. This opportunity would not have been possible without my time at Utah Valley."
Utah Valley was one of the top offensive teams in the nation during the 2025 campaign, finishing ranked No. 2 nationally in points per game (9.55), No. 2 in shots per game (22.27), No. 2 in shots on goal per game (10.41), and No. 3 in both goals and assists per game. UVU ranked third in the country in scoring offense at 3.18. In all, the Wolverines ranked in the top three nationally in eight offensive stat categories.
"Nuno has worked very hard to give himself this opportunity to become a head coach at the NCAA level," said Utah Valley head coach Chris Lemay. "He has a great understanding of the recruiting landscape across the country and will use his extensive network to bring in impactful players immediately. We are thankful for his time with our program and recognize his contributions to our record-breaking 2025 fall season. We wish Nuno and his family all the best in Austin. The Hilltoppers have gotten themselves a GOAT with this hire."
St. Edward's University is an NCAA Division II program that competes in the Lone Star Conference.
Gourgel brings a wealth of experience to his new role, including Division I assistant coaching stops at the University of Utah and Robert Morris, along with a successful head coaching tenure at Snow College. Over four seasons at Snow, he built both the men's and women's programs, guiding the women's team to a 59-7-11 record, three conference titles, and three Coach of the Year honors.
"It says something that our last two first assistants have moved into head coaching roles," Lemay said. "UVU continues to be a program that is recognized nationally. We will start a search for Nuno's replacement immediately. I am confident that we will bring in yet another talented coach that will add value to our coaching team."
"Thank you to the players for being so welcoming from day one," Gourgel continued. "It has been an honor to work with such a special group, and I look forward to watching you all continue to grow and break more records. I will always be a fan of this program, and we will be watching from afar."
Utah Valley will begin a national search for its next assistant coach as the Wolverines prepare for the upcoming season.
