HOUSTON, Texas — Reeja Awan has been named Sports Performance Coach for Men's Soccer at the University of St. Thomas, bringing a rare blend of physical training expertise and psychological performance insight to a program she already knows well.
Awan is no stranger to St. Thomas athletics. She has already spent two seasons working with the men's soccer program, including regular-season and Tournament championship seasons in 2022 and 2023, and previously spent two seasons with men's basketball, including an SCAC tournament championship season in 2022. That history means she arrives with established relationships, a working knowledge of the roster, and a clear sense of the standard the program expects.
Awan holds a master's degree in Applied Sports Performance Psychology from the University of St. Thomas, where she developed a deep understanding of the mental and physiological factors that drive elite athletic performance. Her background allows her to approach athlete development holistically — combining strength, speed, and conditioning work with strategies to build mental resilience, focus, and confidence on the field.
That dual foundation is increasingly rare. Coaches often speak about the mental side of the game; Awan is trained to build it deliberately — teaching athletes to manage nerves before kickoff, reset after a mistake, and hold concentration through the final minutes of a match.
As Sports Performance Coach, Awan will oversee injury prevention, recovery protocols, mental performance training, and team dynamic building for the Men's Soccer program, working closely with the coaching and sports medicine staffs to help student-athletes reach their full potential both physically and mentally.
Coach Awan states, "I couldn't be more thrilled to work with the men's soccer team this season. The energy, drive, and talent in this squad are unmatched, and I'm ready to contribute to an unforgettable year both on and off the pitch."
Her work runs on a year-round calendar rather than a season. Winter and spring build the physical base of strength, power, and repeat-sprint capacity; summer shifts toward preparation and testing; and once the season begins, the emphasis turns to managing training load, protecting recovery around travel, and keeping the group healthy and available when it matters most.
