College of Saint Benedict athletic director Carol Howe-Veenstra has announced that Steve Kimble has been hired as the next head Blazer soccer coach and assistant athletic director.
“I will commit myself to helping the Blazer soccer team win another conference championship,” Kimble said. “I’m excited to coach in a program with such a great tradition.”
Kimble has spent the last seven years as the head soccer coach at Brainerd High School in Brainerd, Minn., in which he compiled an overall record of 99-23-8. In that time, the Warriors have made two state tournament appearances and have won the Central Lakes Conference each of the last five seasons. The Warriors have also played in five consecutive Section 8AA finals. Kimble was named Section 8AA coach of the year in 2005 and 2006.
“Steve has developed the Brainerd girls’ soccer program into a consistent and proven winner,” Howe-Veenstra said. “He also has a strong educational background as a graduate of Saint John’s and has spent significant time on the CSB campus as an education major.”
Kimble has numerous years of administrative experience. He has served as director of coaching and player development for the Lakes Area Youth Soccer Association in Brainerd. He is currently a camp director for Coerver Coaching and director of North Central Soccer. From 1995-2002 Kimble was a part of the Central Minnesota Youth Soccer Association in St. Cloud, Minn., as the director of coaching education and as a coach.
Kimble has also been the pole vault coach for the Brainerd track and field team since 2002. He previously was an assistant girls’ soccer coach and varsity track and field throws coach at Sartell High School from 1998-2002. Following college, he also was an assistant track and field coach at Saint John’s University during the spring of 2000.
Kimble received his Bachelor of Arts from Saint John’s University in Elementary Education with a concentration in Social Studies in December 1999. He then went on to earn his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Southwest Minnesota State University in 2007. He is currently working on his second Master’s in Sports Management from St. Cloud State University. Kimble also holds a United States Soccer Federation "B" license and a National Soccer Coaches Association of America Advanced National diploma.
As a high school athlete at Sartell, he was part of the 1994 Minnesota Class A State Football Championship team in which he was an all-state defensive end. In 1995, he won the MN Class A State Championship in the discus.
As a member of the track and field team at Saint John’s, he was an All-American in the decathlon, a three-time MIAC champion, and a five-time All-MIAC athlete. He still holds the school record in the decathlon.
Kimble will take over the soccer program and the administrative position from Kate McNeil, who resigned in May for family reasons.
Kimble and his family currently reside in Baxter.