MINNEAPOLIS -- Clara Webby (Macalester '19), an all-conference and all-region defender during her collegiate playing days, has been named the new head coach for the Augsburg University women's soccer team, it was announced on Monday.
 
Webby, who has served as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Macalester College, and at St. Catherine University since graduating from Macalester in 2019, will be the seventh head coach in the 39-season history of the Augsburg women's soccer program. She replaces Mike Navarre, who retired in February after leading the Auggies to 235 wins in 24 seasons.
 
"I am excited to step into my new role as the head women's soccer coach at Augsburg University," Webby said. "In my eight years in the MIAC as both a student-athlete and coach, I have truly respected the work being done at Augsburg, on and off the pitch. I'm honored and thrilled to join this storied program and the Augsburg community. Here's to ambition without apology. Let's go Auggies!"
 
Webby spent three seasons (2019-21, 2022-23) as an assistant coach at Macalester, serving as a full-time assistant coach and recruiting coordinator during her most recent stint. She served as the top assistant on head coach Madeline Buckley's staff in 2022, focusing on coaching the defensive backline, along with leading recruiting initiatives and assisting in developing the team's playing style. The Scots finished 8-6-5 and 4-4-3 in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play in 2022, reaching the conference playoffs.
 
In 2021-22, Webby served as the top assistant at St. Catherine, part of a Wildcats squad that won the school's first-ever MIAC regular-season and playoff championships, advancing to the second-round of the NCAA Division III national tournament. The Wildcats finished 15-2-3 overall and 9-1-1 in MIAC play in 2021, and with Webby as the architect of the team's defense, the Wildcats surrendered just 12 goals, tied for the second-fewest among MIAC teams and a 13-goal improvement over the previous full season.
 
A native of San Francisco, Calif., Webby has also served as a coach on the youth level in the Twin Cities area since graduating from Macalester, most recently as a staff coach, marketing director and age-group director for the Twin Cities Rush in Blaine, Minn. She was named the club's Fall Coach of the Year in 2021. She also coached from 2018-19 for the Minneapolis United youth club.

 

As a central defender during her playing days at Macalester, Webby earned All-MIAC and United Soccer Coaches All-Region first-team honors in both 2016 and 2017. She was an All-MIAC honorable-mention selection in 2015, and an All-MIAC Sportsmanship Team honoree and team captain in 2018. She started all 51 career games in her three-plus seasons as a Scot, as an injury ended her playing career one game into her senior season. She scored three goals with four assists for 10 points in her career, with her defense allowing just 38 goals in her 51 career games with 26 shutouts. The Scots were 26-15-10 (.608) overall and 15-10-7 (.578) in MIAC play in her 51 games.
 
Webby is a Cum Laude graduate from Macalester, earning her bachelor's degree in international studies (political science disciplinary focus) in 2019. She earned Academic All-MIAC honors twice and was a member of Macalester's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Webby earned her United States Soccer Federation Director of Coaching diploma in 2020, and her USSF National "C" License in 2022.
 
"I would like to thank President Paul Pribbenow, Athletic Director Jeff Swenson and the hiring committee, for this unique opportunity to lead, empower, and compete with this incredible group of young women," Webby said. "I would also like to thank coaches Madeline Buckley, Jesse Campos, Krystle Seidel, and Michele Cornish, for their invaluable mentorships."