Katie Aafedt wouldn't do well at the poker table.
Edina girls soccer coach Katie Aafedt resigns after perfect season and state title
Katie Aafedt coached Edina 11 seasons and was involved with her alma mater's program for more than two decades.
November 22, 2023 at 12:15AM
She walked into a room Monday to address her Edina soccer team and knew players "could tell by my face" that a sad ending to a remarkable season was at hand.
Aafedt announced her resignation after 11 seasons as Hornets head coach and 21 years overall with the program. The 1996 Edina High School graduate saved the best for last, guiding the team to an undefeated season and Class 3A state tournament championship.
Aafedt expressed a desire to watch more games of her daughter, Reese, who was a freshman goalkeeper at Blake this season. Mom knows the clock is ticking on her opportunity to be a fan. (Mom and daughter previously agreed they wouldn't want the player-coach dynamic for their relationship.)
"I only saw five of her games all year," Katie Aafedt said. "That slowly killed me."
Which is why she is trading the sidelines for the bleachers. Though the decision wasn't without tears.
"Even leaving for my family's sake is still hard," Aafedt said. "It took about three seconds into that team meeting before I started crying."
Aafedt will stay involved with soccer by moving into a college recruiting liaison role with the Minnesota Thunder Academy soccer club. She said overseeing highly recruited Edina players of late such as Sophia Boman, Maddie Dahlien and Izzy Engle gave her a head start.
"That will keep me involved in building relationships," she said. "Everything feels right."
Six players plus head coach Garrett Raboin and assistant coach Ben Gordon are from Minnesota. The tournament’s games will be televised starting Monday.
