Community gathers to celebrate life and legacy of beloved soccer coach Kelly Pierce | News

TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) – Hundreds of people gathered Saturday at Salpointe Catholic’s gym to celebrate the life and legacy of Kelly Pierce.

A fierce competitor, inspiring coach and dedicated mom, Pierce left a lasting impact on her community. Friends and family shared cherished memories, offering comfort to her three sons, Tyler, Brady, and Camden.

“I know you’ll always feel the love your mother had for you,” Pierce’s cousin Toni Nagore said. “While that will never be replaced, you have a community and family that love you deeply.”

Nagore grew up with Pierce. They went through life together.

“She was such a fun mom,” Nagore said. “Everything they needed, she was right on top of it. She was always at every thing they ever had. She never missed anything.”

Pierce’s boys were her everything, but she also had her girls. 

“She was my second mom,” former Salpointe Catholic player Bella Malovich said.

“It was more of a mother/daughter than a coach and player,” another former player Rylen Bourguet added.

Pierce coached the FC Tucson women’s team and Salpointe Catholic girls soccer. She led the Lancers to six state titles in eight years. However, she was more than just a coach.

“She cared about you as a person, not just a player and what you produce on the field,” Bourguet said.

Her players honored her legacy by wearing their iconic warmup shirts with ‘Equality’ printed on the front.

“She preached equality with every single breath she took,” Malovich said. “That was her entire lifestyle and what she fought for.”

Malovich said she was moved by how many people came to celebrate Pierce’s life.

“It’s just a visual of how much she impacted Tucson and how many lives she touched and how many people she really impacted,” she said. 

A link to a GoFundme to support Pierce’s sons can be found here. You can also support them by buying a tshirt here.