Southern Arizona soccer community mourns loss of Kelly Pierce | News

TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) – The Southern Arizona soccer community is mourning the sudden loss of Kelly Pierce, a standout player turned head coach for FC Tucson and Salpointe Catholic. 

As the Salpointe Catholic girls soccer coach, Pierce led her teams to six 4A state championships in 8 years. That includes a title this past season. She also won two state titles as a Salpointe player in 1998 and 1999.

Pierce was a captain for Tucson Soccer Academy (TSA) and FC Tucson women from 2013-2018. She later served as the head coach of FC Tucson Women from 2019–2023.

“Kelly was a talented and charismatic leader both as a player and a coach,” FC Tucson Founder and President Jon Pearlman said. “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.”

“I first met Kelly as a teammate in 2016 and quickly came to admire her leadership both on and off the field,” FC Tucson Women’s Head Coach Caylee Carter said. “Her strength, resilience and unwavering dedication stood out not just as a player but as a person. In the years that followed she became my coach, guiding our program with passion and purpose. Kelly was a role model who paved the way for female equality in the Tucson soccer community and she inspired young girls and women to stand strong, be powerful and fight for what they deserve. I am heartbroken by her sudden passing. She leaves behind more than a legacy but a community of players, coaches, friends and family who will miss her deeply.”

Pierce is survived by her sons, Tyler, Brady and Camden, partner Joey Bernier, and brother Jeff Pierce.