AMES, Iowa – Iowa State head soccer coach Matt Fannon has announced the hiring of Jaycie Ackerman, who has been named assistant coach.

“Jaycie brings so much experience in the game at the top level as a brilliant player, with knowledge of the coaching requirements of the Big 12,” said Fannon. “We looked so specifically at what we felt we needed with this role and Jaycie will be spot on.”

Ackerman, formerly Jaycie Johnson, is no stranger to the Big 12. The former standout athlete at Nebraska has coached at both Kansas (2023) and Kansas State (2024) since retiring from her professional playing career in the NWSL.

Prior to her time as an assistant coach in the Big 12, Ackerman spent five seasons playing in the NWSL after being selected 27th overall in the 2017 draft by the North Carolina Courage.

Ackerman spent the first year of her pro career in Carolina before spending the next two with the OL Reign (2018-19) before finishing up with the KC Current (2021-22). During the COVID season (2020), Ackerman returned to her alma mater and worked as a volunteer assistant with the Cornhusker soccer program.

Ackerman was a star with the Cornhusker program from 2013-16, where she helped lead Nebraska to a pair of NCAA Tournament berths (13 & 16). Ackerman became the first freshman in NCAA history to score four goals in a tournament game with her performance against Southeastern Louisiana on Nov. 15, 2013. As a senior in 2016 at Nebraska, Ackerman was named a Third-Team NSCAA All-American, a First-Team NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region selection and earned a spot on the All-Big Ten First Team.

The Iowa State soccer program will officially kick off its fall campaign on August 14 when it hosts the Portland State Vikings. ISU and PSU will square off on opening day at 6 p.m.