Labor Joins CU Soccer Staff To Replace Brunner
April 25, 2017 | Soccer
Labor comes to the Buffs after four years at CSU; Brunner steps down to pursue her CrossFit business
BOULDER – Colorado soccer coach Danny Sanchez announced the addition of Kelly Labor to his staff on Tuesday. Labor will replace Annie Brunner as the team's coordinator of performance analysis and camp operations. Brunner has stepped down from her position to focus on her CrossFit business that she owns.
"Annie Brunner has been a huge part of Colorado soccer for many years," Sanchez said. "Her performance on the soccer field and as a captain of our 2013 squad speaks for itself. She has been a vital part of our staff these last few years and she will be greatly missed. We wish her the best as she moves on to growing her business.
"I recruited Kelly out of high school many years ago and I have been watching her as she has grown from a standout player to a fantastic coach at all levels. She has a passion for soccer and is always looking for ways to improve. Kelly is the perfect fit for our program."
Labor joins CU's staff after four seasons at Colorado State as an assistant coach. She worked at CSU under former Buffs head coach Bill Hempen, where they served their roles since the inception of the soccer program in 2013.
Prior to her time at Colorado State, Labor was an assistant coach at Regis University, an NCAA Division II school in Denver. At Regis, she was in charge of individual technical and group skill development, recruiting, fundraising, monitoring student-athlete academic progress and captain and leadership development. She helped the Rangers to three Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances 2010-12.
Labor is also the head coach of the 2003 Olympic Development Program Colorado State team, which was a regional finalist in 2016. Prior to that, she was an assistant with 2001 regional team and has been a staff coach for the national training camp, regional camps, sub-regional events and interregional championships.
She has spent the past 10 years coaching club soccer for all levels and ages at Real Colorado, Las Vegas Premier, Westminster AFC and currently with Arsenal Colorado. In 2015, she was named Arsenal Competitive Coach of the Year and was nominated for Colorado State Youth Soccer Competitive Coach of the Year.
Labor holds her NSCAA Advanced National Coaching License. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from UNLV in 2010, where she was a student-athlete for the Rebels. In 2007, she helped UNLV to a Mountain West Conference regular-season championship and she was a three-time Mountain West All-Academic honoree.
She played one year of soccer at Regis before transferring to UNLV, earning RMAC Freshman of the Year and first-team all-conference after leading the Rangers in points, assists and game-winning goals, and was second in goals scored. When she returned to Regis as a coach, she earned her master's degree in 2012 in specialization in leadership development.
Brunner spent two seasons on the CU staff as the coordinator of performance analysis and camp operations following a professional playing career and a year as an assistant coach for Troy. A 2013 graduate of CU, she is one of the most decorated goalkeepers in school history, ranking second all-time at Colorado in saves, wins, ties and shutouts. As a senior in 2013, she helped the Buffs to the NCAA Tournament third round, while serving as a team captain.
"Annie Brunner has been a huge part of Colorado soccer for many years," Sanchez said. "Her performance on the soccer field and as a captain of our 2013 squad speaks for itself. She has been a vital part of our staff these last few years and she will be greatly missed. We wish her the best as she moves on to growing her business.
"I recruited Kelly out of high school many years ago and I have been watching her as she has grown from a standout player to a fantastic coach at all levels. She has a passion for soccer and is always looking for ways to improve. Kelly is the perfect fit for our program."
Labor joins CU's staff after four seasons at Colorado State as an assistant coach. She worked at CSU under former Buffs head coach Bill Hempen, where they served their roles since the inception of the soccer program in 2013.
Prior to her time at Colorado State, Labor was an assistant coach at Regis University, an NCAA Division II school in Denver. At Regis, she was in charge of individual technical and group skill development, recruiting, fundraising, monitoring student-athlete academic progress and captain and leadership development. She helped the Rangers to three Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances 2010-12.
Labor is also the head coach of the 2003 Olympic Development Program Colorado State team, which was a regional finalist in 2016. Prior to that, she was an assistant with 2001 regional team and has been a staff coach for the national training camp, regional camps, sub-regional events and interregional championships.
She has spent the past 10 years coaching club soccer for all levels and ages at Real Colorado, Las Vegas Premier, Westminster AFC and currently with Arsenal Colorado. In 2015, she was named Arsenal Competitive Coach of the Year and was nominated for Colorado State Youth Soccer Competitive Coach of the Year.
Labor holds her NSCAA Advanced National Coaching License. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from UNLV in 2010, where she was a student-athlete for the Rebels. In 2007, she helped UNLV to a Mountain West Conference regular-season championship and she was a three-time Mountain West All-Academic honoree.
She played one year of soccer at Regis before transferring to UNLV, earning RMAC Freshman of the Year and first-team all-conference after leading the Rangers in points, assists and game-winning goals, and was second in goals scored. When she returned to Regis as a coach, she earned her master's degree in 2012 in specialization in leadership development.
Brunner spent two seasons on the CU staff as the coordinator of performance analysis and camp operations following a professional playing career and a year as an assistant coach for Troy. A 2013 graduate of CU, she is one of the most decorated goalkeepers in school history, ranking second all-time at Colorado in saves, wins, ties and shutouts. As a senior in 2013, she helped the Buffs to the NCAA Tournament third round, while serving as a team captain.
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