By Sean Savage
@SeanSav13
From her office inside the Springfield College Wellness Center, Kristin Cannon leans back in her chair, reflecting on her two-year tenure with the women’s soccer team, knowing that her time as its head coach has ended. Through every practice, game and training session, one night stands out: A showdown against Brown University, a stout Division I program, on Nov. 1, 2022.
The Pride suffered a hard-fought 1-0 loss to Clark in the 2022 NEWMAC quarterfinal when Cannon received an unexpected phone call two days later.
“I got a call from Brown’s head coach saying, ‘Hey, we were supposed to play Yale in the Ivy League championship, but they have too many COVID cases. We’re scrambling – any chance you guys want to come play us?'” Cannon recalled.
Brown, ranked No. 27 in the nation at the time, had been steamrolling its competition, boasting a 10-2-2 record – including notable 6-1 and 11-0 wins over Princeton and Stonehill, respectively. Despite the daunting matchup, Cannon and her squad didn’t back down from the opportunity.
“We practiced for 45 minutes on Friday, the coaches watched their film and then we went to Brown on Saturday,” Cannon said. “We were on ESPN+, playing against the eventual Ivy League champions – it was just a really cool experience for our players.”
The match ended 7-2 in favor of the Bears, but when returning to the present moment, Cannon knew that moments like these – where her players could take something meaningful away – defined her time at Springfield.
“I want them to know that I gave them everything I could,” Cannon said. “And I hope they know how much we, as a staff, put into helping them succeed every day and how much we care about them.”
Ahead of her first season in 2022, Cannon dreamed about working at Springfield College. She earned her master’s degree on Alden Street and spent two years as a graduate assistant with the program. However, an unexpected opportunity presented itself, which caused Cannon to weigh her options for herself and her family.
“Springfield has always been a really special place to me,” Cannon said. “But sometimes, life presents opportunities you don’t expect.”
Cannon missed the Pride’s 2024-25 season following the birth of her child, adding another layer to her decision. In July 2025, Cannon will transition into a new role as the Athletic Director at The Rivers School in Weston, Mass.
“It’s really bittersweet,” Cannon said. “Springfield has meant so much to me – not just as a coach, but as a person. It’s a place that shaped me, and it’s really hard to leave. But this opportunity came up, and the timing made sense for me and my family.”
While the next chapter of her life is filled with excitement, Cannon knows leaving Alden Street won’t be easy. Over two years, Cannon credits the people for making her time meaningful.
“Every player, student-athlete, student, faculty member, staff member – you build a community here,” Cannon said. “It’s the cliché saying of ‘Oh, it’s a family,’ but it truly is. That’s what makes leaving so hard.”
With Cannon’s eventual departure, Springfield College will begin the search for a new women’s soccer head coach. While she won’t be the one hollering from Brock-Affleck’s sidelines, Cannon remains confident that the Pride will have a successful future.
“The program has had a tradition of excellence,” she said. “The conference landscape has changed a lot over the years – it’s really competitive now. But our team is primed and ready to do some really impressive stuff next fall and moving forward.”
Photo courtesy of Springfield College Athletics