CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – After earning back-to-back trips to the Atlantic Sun Conference Women's Soccer Championship, Austin Peay State University head soccer coach Kim McGowan has agreed to a contract extension through the 2026 season, Austin Peay Vice President and Director of Athletics Gerald Harrison announced Friday.

"I am so excited to announce that we have agreed to a two-year contract extension with head soccer coach Kim McGowan," said Harrison. "In her first three seasons, the soccer program has shown consistent growth on the field while committing itself to the 'Total Gov Concept' off the field. Coach McGowan is developing an exciting soccer program on the field while personally and professionally developing her student-athletes off the field so they can succeed in all aspects of life. Coach McGowan and her team are headed in the right direction and I can't wait to watch them compete for the ASUN Soccer Championship in the years to come!"

Austin Peay has captured two additional wins each season with McGowan at the helm of Governors soccer, including the program's first winning record in seven seasons this fall.  Additionally, McGowan's 15 overall wins and nine conference victories both are the most by a head coach in their first three seasons. 

McGowan and the Governors are coming off a 7-6-6 season, in which APSU went 5-3-3 in ASUN Conference play. The Governors' winning record was its first since 2017, and the first winning record in conference play since the 2016 Ohio Valley Conference campaign. 

Following the regular season, Austin Peay earned five All-ASUN selections and three Academic All-ASUN recognitions – its most postseason honors in program history. Ellie Dreas and Lindsey McMahon earned Second Team All-ASUN honors, Aniyah Mack and Alec Baumgardt were tabbed Third Team All-ASUN, and Kiley Reese received All-Freshman recognition. Dreas, McMahon, and Hannah Zahn also earned Academic All-ASUN Team honors.

Dreas and Baumgardt led Austin Peay with six goals each last season, the most goals by a Governor since 2017, also making them the highest goal-scoring duo since 2015. The Governors' 25 goals in 2024 also were the most since a 30-goal 2017 campaign and are tied for the 11th most in program history.

During the 2023 season, McGowan led Austin Peay to its first berth in the ASUN Championship. There, program advanced in the postseason for the first time since 2013 after the Govs defeated Kennesaw State in penalty kicks in the first round of the tournament.

That season, Mack received Second Team All-ASUN and All-Freshman Team honors, while McMahon was a Third Team All-ASUN Team member in addition to Tori Case's Academic All-ASUN Team recognition.

During McGowan's first season at the helm in 2022, the Governors' defense allowed just 21 goals – its fewest in five non-COVID-shortened seasons – and posted seven shutouts, which are tied for the third-most in program history. Throughout McGowan's tenure, APSU has 16 shutouts and garners a 1.4 goals-against average.

Off the field, McGowan and the Governors are regularly a part of the Clarksville-Montgomery County community, as the program has tallied over 730 community service hours since McGowan's arrival in Clarksville.