King alumna Kendyl Baird ’16 has been inducted into the 2022-2023 class of the United Soccer Coaches’ 30 Under 30 Program. She is one of only three women to serve as head coach for a men’s team.

She currently serves as Head Men’s Soccer Coach at Warren Wilson College in North Carolina.

“I was surprised that I got it, super excited,” Baird said, “but I’ve gotten myself into a good position, career-wise, and I think that helped. This recognition will help pay for us to go to conventions and gain extra learning and being able to take a class and gain more knowledge is really awesome.”

Baird credits her success to her time at King.

“King is definitely home for me. While I was there, I grew in so many ways and in so many different aspects of my life. I met people who impacted my life,” she said.

Breaking barriers as one of the only female head coaches of a men’s team in the country, she feels encouraged for the future of co-ed coaching.

“I’m trying to pave the way,” said Baird. “If there are girls who want to coach at the college level and want to coach men at the high school or the college level, it’s just like, go for it, you know, just try for it and really put yourself out there because, I mean, you never know,” she said.

For more information about King’s sport management program, visit: https://www.king.edu/programs/business/sport-management/