Women's Soccer
Cole Schmit
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- cschmit@uw.edu
Cole Schmit joined the UW Coaching staff in 2022 after five seasons as assistant coach at San Diego State. Having spent four seasons on Nicole Van Dyke's staff, Schmit works with UW's defensive unit, while assisting with recruiting, video analysis and opposition scouting.
Both graduating from Upland High School in Southern California, Schmit played a key role in the development of standout centerback Kolo Suliafu. Joining the Dawgs ahead of Schmit's maiden season on Montlake in 2022, Suliafu put together one of the most heralded careers ever seen by a defender in Purple and Gold. A two-time all-league honoree and the 2025 Big Ten Defender of the Year, Suliafu joined a select group of six Huskies all-time to receive All-America laurels from the United Soccer Coaches, ultimately signing a professional contract with the NWSL's Kansas City Current following the 2025 season.
Behind a record setting defense, Washington ascended to a championship level in 2025, setting a new program record with 12 clean sheets during Schmit's fourth season working with the Husky back line.
Ranking second in the Big Ten with a 0.66 GAA for the season, UW allowed just seven goals and posted six shutouts during Big Ten play en route to the conference double, becoming the first Big Ten team to win both championships outright since 2013. Washington earned its first conference title in 25 years with a 15-3-7 overall record, including 8-1-2 in league play, advancing to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight for the third time in program history. Following the season, UW's staff was recognized as the United Soccer Coaches North Region Staff of the Year.
Schmit's defensive quartet was one of the most highly lauded in the nation. Every member of UW's back line received postseason plaudits from Big Ten Coaches, with Suliafu, Maya Loudd and Anna Menti garnering All-Big Ten nods and Maylen Montoya reeling in All-Freshman laurels.
A thorn in the side of virtually every offensive unit it faced all season long, Washington held its opponent to six or fewer shots 12 times, including 6-of-11 Big Ten matches. Along with national runner up Stanford, the Huskies were one of two teams to hold the vaunted UCLA defense to single digit shots, becoming the first team to hold the Bruins without a first half shot since 2018.
In Schmit's third season at UW, the Huskies took another step forward thanks in large part to a pesky, ferocious defense. UW posted a 10-7-4 record, finishing tied for fifth in the Big Ten on points with a 7-4-0 mark in league play, advancing to the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals and reaching the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament.
Under Schmit's direction, Washington once again put forth one of the nation's elite defenses. The Huskies racked up 11 clean sheets during the campaign while surrendering a meager 12 goals, matching the program record in both categories. UW's defense allowed multiple goals just twice, ranking eight in the nation with a 0.560 goals against average.
In addition to continuing the development of Suliafu, Schmit also ushered in the emergence of a pair of underclassmen defenders in sophomore Loudd and true freshman Kate Cheldelin, both making 20 appearances in UW's starting XI. While Washington received outstanding play from its goaltenders, Schmit's Husky backline worked tirelessly to make UW's keeper's jobs easier, holding opponents to five or less shots on goal 13 times, including two or fewer four times.
Washington posted a 9-5-5 record in Schmit's second season, registering seven clean sheets. Over the final six matches of the season, UW allowed just three goals, finishing out the season with three straight shutouts over Oregon, Oregon State and Washington State.
Under Schmit's tutelage, Suliafu earned her first of three United Soccer Coaches All-Region honors, while Jace Holmes tied for the Pac-12 lead with seven assists from the outside back position.
During Schmit's first season on Montlake, the Huskies finished the 2022 campaign with a 10-6-3 record. Schmit helped the Dawgs get off to an undefeated non-conference slate, the first in program history. UW also made history in Schmit's first season, defeating Washington State 3-2 for UW's first win in Pullman since 1996.
With the Aztecs, Schmit helped guide SDSU to the program’s 10th and 11th Mountain West championships and earned a spot in the NCAA tournament in 2017.
While at SDSU, Schmit coached 14 All-Mountain West players, seven of which were first-team honors and included a pair of first-team honors for midfielder Chloe Frisch. He guided four players to United Soccer Coaches All-Region distinction, and seven players have earned All-Tournament Team selections.
Prior to San Diego State, Schmit was a women’s soccer assistant coach at Westmont College, an NAIA institution that competes in the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). In two seasons, he helped the Warriors to a 32-8-4 record, a pair of league titles and two trips to the NAIA tournament.
In his first season on the Westmont campus, Schmit and the Warriors won the 2015 GSAC regular season and tournament championships en route to an NAIA quarterfinal appearance. One season later, Westmont advanced to the Round of 16. In addition to the team success, Schmit helped the Warriors collect two GSAC Player-of-the-Year awards, three All-America accolades and eight all-conference honors.
Schmit began his coaching career at Pacific in 2014 as a men’s soccer volunteer assistant coach. In his one season in Stockton, he helped the first-year program become what is now considered a contender in the West Coast Conference.
Schmit played collegiately at California Baptist where he helped the Lancers to a 58-21-4 record after scoring 10 goals and logging nine assists in 83 games (59 starts). In his time at CBU, the Lancers won the NCCAA Division I national championship in 2011 and 2012 and won the 2011 Pacific West Conference title. Individually, Schmit was an NSCAA/NCCAA Division I first-team All-American and an All-PacWest first-team midfielder in 2012. His success on the field translated in the classroom as he earned a spot on the All-PacWest academic team three times and was recognized as an NCCAA Scholar-Athlete.
Schmit graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in marketing from California Baptist in 2014.
Both graduating from Upland High School in Southern California, Schmit played a key role in the development of standout centerback Kolo Suliafu. Joining the Dawgs ahead of Schmit's maiden season on Montlake in 2022, Suliafu put together one of the most heralded careers ever seen by a defender in Purple and Gold. A two-time all-league honoree and the 2025 Big Ten Defender of the Year, Suliafu joined a select group of six Huskies all-time to receive All-America laurels from the United Soccer Coaches, ultimately signing a professional contract with the NWSL's Kansas City Current following the 2025 season.
Behind a record setting defense, Washington ascended to a championship level in 2025, setting a new program record with 12 clean sheets during Schmit's fourth season working with the Husky back line.
Ranking second in the Big Ten with a 0.66 GAA for the season, UW allowed just seven goals and posted six shutouts during Big Ten play en route to the conference double, becoming the first Big Ten team to win both championships outright since 2013. Washington earned its first conference title in 25 years with a 15-3-7 overall record, including 8-1-2 in league play, advancing to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight for the third time in program history. Following the season, UW's staff was recognized as the United Soccer Coaches North Region Staff of the Year.
Schmit's defensive quartet was one of the most highly lauded in the nation. Every member of UW's back line received postseason plaudits from Big Ten Coaches, with Suliafu, Maya Loudd and Anna Menti garnering All-Big Ten nods and Maylen Montoya reeling in All-Freshman laurels.
A thorn in the side of virtually every offensive unit it faced all season long, Washington held its opponent to six or fewer shots 12 times, including 6-of-11 Big Ten matches. Along with national runner up Stanford, the Huskies were one of two teams to hold the vaunted UCLA defense to single digit shots, becoming the first team to hold the Bruins without a first half shot since 2018.
In Schmit's third season at UW, the Huskies took another step forward thanks in large part to a pesky, ferocious defense. UW posted a 10-7-4 record, finishing tied for fifth in the Big Ten on points with a 7-4-0 mark in league play, advancing to the Big Ten Tournament Semifinals and reaching the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament.
Under Schmit's direction, Washington once again put forth one of the nation's elite defenses. The Huskies racked up 11 clean sheets during the campaign while surrendering a meager 12 goals, matching the program record in both categories. UW's defense allowed multiple goals just twice, ranking eight in the nation with a 0.560 goals against average.
In addition to continuing the development of Suliafu, Schmit also ushered in the emergence of a pair of underclassmen defenders in sophomore Loudd and true freshman Kate Cheldelin, both making 20 appearances in UW's starting XI. While Washington received outstanding play from its goaltenders, Schmit's Husky backline worked tirelessly to make UW's keeper's jobs easier, holding opponents to five or less shots on goal 13 times, including two or fewer four times.
Washington posted a 9-5-5 record in Schmit's second season, registering seven clean sheets. Over the final six matches of the season, UW allowed just three goals, finishing out the season with three straight shutouts over Oregon, Oregon State and Washington State.
Under Schmit's tutelage, Suliafu earned her first of three United Soccer Coaches All-Region honors, while Jace Holmes tied for the Pac-12 lead with seven assists from the outside back position.
During Schmit's first season on Montlake, the Huskies finished the 2022 campaign with a 10-6-3 record. Schmit helped the Dawgs get off to an undefeated non-conference slate, the first in program history. UW also made history in Schmit's first season, defeating Washington State 3-2 for UW's first win in Pullman since 1996.
With the Aztecs, Schmit helped guide SDSU to the program’s 10th and 11th Mountain West championships and earned a spot in the NCAA tournament in 2017.
While at SDSU, Schmit coached 14 All-Mountain West players, seven of which were first-team honors and included a pair of first-team honors for midfielder Chloe Frisch. He guided four players to United Soccer Coaches All-Region distinction, and seven players have earned All-Tournament Team selections.
Prior to San Diego State, Schmit was a women’s soccer assistant coach at Westmont College, an NAIA institution that competes in the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). In two seasons, he helped the Warriors to a 32-8-4 record, a pair of league titles and two trips to the NAIA tournament.
In his first season on the Westmont campus, Schmit and the Warriors won the 2015 GSAC regular season and tournament championships en route to an NAIA quarterfinal appearance. One season later, Westmont advanced to the Round of 16. In addition to the team success, Schmit helped the Warriors collect two GSAC Player-of-the-Year awards, three All-America accolades and eight all-conference honors.
Schmit began his coaching career at Pacific in 2014 as a men’s soccer volunteer assistant coach. In his one season in Stockton, he helped the first-year program become what is now considered a contender in the West Coast Conference.
Schmit played collegiately at California Baptist where he helped the Lancers to a 58-21-4 record after scoring 10 goals and logging nine assists in 83 games (59 starts). In his time at CBU, the Lancers won the NCCAA Division I national championship in 2011 and 2012 and won the 2011 Pacific West Conference title. Individually, Schmit was an NSCAA/NCCAA Division I first-team All-American and an All-PacWest first-team midfielder in 2012. His success on the field translated in the classroom as he earned a spot on the All-PacWest academic team three times and was recognized as an NCCAA Scholar-Athlete.
Schmit graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in marketing from California Baptist in 2014.
Washington Soccer vs. Virginia | NCAA Tournament Penalty Shots
Tuesday, November 25
Washington 1 (5), Virginia 1 (4) | Huskies Highlights
Sunday, November 23
Take a bow, Lea 🤯
Sunday, November 23
Washington Soccer vs. Arkansas | NCAA Tournament Round 2 Recap
Saturday, November 22
