COACHING STAFF

Gabe Kleinert | Assistant Coach

On May 18, 2022, the University at Albany women’s soccer program and first-year head coach Sade Ayinde announced the hiring of Gabe Kleinert as the program’s newest assistant coach.

Kleinert spent the last two seasons at the University of Rochester, starting as an assistant coach and then spending the 2021 season as the interim head coach.  Last year, Kleinert led the Yellowjackets to 6-5-5 record.  The five ties on the season came against five opponents ranked between third and 21st nationally.

Before arriving at Rochester, Kleinert spent seven seasons as the assistant coach at Westminster College of Pennsylvania.  The Titans compiled an overall record of 73-37-10, and qualified for the postseason five times.

Kleinert earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business & Sports Management from Geneva College in 2011, and his Master’s Degree in Education from Westminster College in 2014.  He was a four-year starter for the Geneva College men’s program, leading the Golden Tornados to 53 wins, the third-highest total for a single class in program history.

Outside his collegiate experience, Kleinert has coached at the high school, club, and Olympic Development levels, including most recently with Empire United GA club and State and East Region ODP.  He holds a USSF B coaching license and is a candidate for a USSF National A license.

Leslie Adams | Assistant Coach

On January 30, 2024, the University at Albany women’s soccer program and head coach Sade Ayinde announced the hiring of Leslie Adams in the role of assistant coach.

Adams joins UAlbany after spending the last two seasons with the Philadelphia Union as a youth staff coach.  After starting as a part-time coach in April, 2022, Adams was promoted to full-time, becoming the first female full-time coach in the organization’s history.  Part of her focus was the coordination of spring and summer curricula for the youth members of the academy.

Her time with the Philadelphia Union overlapped with a one-season stint at Perkiomen Valley High School, her alma mater, where she served as head coach for the school’s junior varsity team.

From January, 2019, through May, 2022, Adams worked at Between the Posts Goalkeeping on Horsham, Pa., where she developed and oversaw programming to improve goalkeeper techniques.

Adams earned her B.A. in Mathematics and Business from Siena College in May, 2022.  She was a member of the Saints’ women’s soccer team for four years, earning MAAC Goalkeeper of the Year honors in the 2021 spring season.  In two seasons as a starter, she appeared in 17 games, going 7-7-3 with four shutouts, a goals-against average of 1.23, and a save percentage of .824.