WVU Sports Hall of Fame

Inducted: 2012

Written by Bryan Messerly

West Virginia’s first women’s soccer All-American, Katie Barnes rewrote the Mountaineer record book during her tenure at WVU from 1998-2001.

The Mason, Ohio, native started every match in her career and helped lead the Mountaineers to their first-ever NCAA tournament appearance as a junior in 2000. That season, Barnes scored 17 goals and added nine assists for a 43-point season. At the time, no women’s soccer player boasted better seasonal numbers.

Barnes led the Mountaineers in points in three of her four seasons to finish with 45 career goals, 30 career assists and 120 career points. The forward was a two-time Big East Offensive Player of the Year, earning the honor in 2000 and 2001, becoming the program’s first offensive major award winner.

As a senior, Barnes was named First Team All-Big East, an NSCAA/adidas First Team All-American, an NSCAA/adidas Mid-Atlantic Region first team member, a Soccer Buzz First Team Mid-Atlantic Region member, a Soccer Buzz Second Team All-American, a National Strength and Conditioning All-American, recipient of the Fred Schaus Captain’s Award and team captain.

Barnes was a member of the United States U-21 National Team that won three consecutive Nordic Cups. In 2004, she spent time training with America’s elite, in hopes of becoming a member of the United States full National Team.

In 2002, Barnes became the first West Virginia women’s soccer player drafted by the Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA), when she was selected in the second round as the ninth overall pick by the Carolina Courage. In her rookie season with Carolina, she helped the team win the 2002 Founders Cup. Barnes also spent time as a member of the San Jose CyberRays in the WUSA and as a member of the Cincinnati Ladyhawks in the United Soccer League.

Barnes spent four seasons as an assistant women’s soccer coach at Alabama before returning home to Ohio to enter the field of law enforcement. She is currently employed with the Warren County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy sheriff.

The BIG EAST Academic All-Star graduated from WVU in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies.