OKLAHOMA CITY – The MACU Women's Soccer program will be expanding its coaching staff for the upcoming 2025 season as Asley Grulkey (Baker) makes her return to MACU as an assistant coach while Mackenzie Smith is joining as the new graduate assistant coach.
Grulkey is back at MACU after competing for the Evangels during her senior season in 2024 following a three-year playing career at NCAA Division II Oklahoma Baptist.
Last year, Grulkey was a key piece of a MACU squad that captured a share of its first ever Sooner Athletic Conference regular season title after going 8-1 in league play and 14-4-2 overall while also locking up a spot in the NAIA Tournament for the first time in program history.
"I'm excited to step into this role and keep building on everything we've already accomplished," stated Grulkey. "MACU Women's Soccer is really something special and its only getting better. I'm proud to be part of something that's growing in all the right ways and can't wait to see what's next."
In 20 games last season, Grulkey was an impact player on both ends of the field as the defender finished the year with three goals and four assists while logging the third-most minutes on the team with 1689 to garner SAC Newcomer of the Year and First Team accolades. On the defensive side, the Evangels allowed only 0.95 goals per game, the fourth-lowest average in program history.
"I am very excited to bring Asley on as an assistant coach," remarked MACU Women's Soccer head coach Anthony Yousey. "With her playing experience at the NAIA and NCAA D-II levels as well as having a wonderful personality, she is just a great fit to continue building on the culture of the program."
Prior to coming to MACU last season, Grulkey competed for three years at Oklahoma Baptist, where she helped guide the Bison to the 2023 Great American Conference Championship as well as the 2021 GAC Tournament Championship while being named an All-GAC First Team honoree during her junior campaign.
Grulkey will be moving into club coaching as well in August, as she will serve as the co-head coach for the Oklahoma Celtic 2012 girls' team.
Smith is also a former NCAA D-II player who comes to MACU following a four-year playing career at Rogers State. From 2021-24, the midfielder saw action in 51 games and made 18 starts with the Hillcats, logging 1859 minutes.
"I am really excited to take on this new journey alongside a talented team and amazing coaching staff," stated Smith. "Just seeing how far they made it last season gives me hope for what's to come over the course of the next couple of years. As I'm entering into coaching for the first time, I'm just excited to work alongside a hardworking group of players and help them improve their game.
Smith also competed in the United Soccer League (USL) and Women's Professional Soccer League (WPSL), competing for the St. Louis Lions in the summer of 2022 and St. Charles FC in 2023 before competing for Peoria City this summer.
"Mackenzie is joining us as a GA and I think she will really add a lot to our staff," said Yousey. "Her playing experience I think will help her to relate to our players and assist them to grow at this level."
The Evangels kick off the 2025 campaign with an exhibition game at Oral Roberts (Okla.) on Aug. 6 before opening the regular season in Baldwin City, Kan. on Aug. 22 against Ottawa (Kan.).
