Maggie Kuhn understands the challenges she’s going to face.

She’s moving away from home, leaving all of her family and friends to move three hours away. Kuhn’s next destination is Seton Hill University, a school in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). The former Point Park women’s soccer head coach decided it was time for a new environment and new obstacles.

However, the decision didn’t come easy for the seven-year head coach.

Kuhn was born and bred in Pittsburgh. Her roots are in the city and she joined the Point Park coaching staff with a goal in mind: to win the conference. She led the team in doing so back in 2015 and then followed it up with another conference win in 2017.

When the team won the conference, Kuhn said it was a weight off her shoulder.

“Winning the program’s first conference championship was really exciting,” Kuhn said. “We had come so close in the previous years, so to finally do it on home turf made it even more exciting for the players.”

Last year tested the Point Park team and Kuhn. They struggled early in the season, but soon bounced back with an eight-game winning streak from September through October. Kuhn said that leaving the team and school was one of the hardest decisions she had to make. Making it even more difficult, according to Kuhn, was departing with this season’s senior class.

“In their first year, we won the conference for a second time,” Kuhn said. “They, throughout the years, have proven themselves to be very hard workers and very team-oriented. They’re great leaders. I think having such a large class made them impact the team immediately. That experience helped them to be successful.”

Kuhn said she was looking forward to this season, due to the senior class coming back and the underclassmen that were retained. She also called this season’s recruiting class top-notch.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that they could make a good run in winning another conference title this year,” Kuhn said.

However, she’s anticipating a successful year of her own for Seton Hill. She called her team impressive and she’s looking forward to working with them. In regard to moving, Kuhn said she’s excited for the challenge of pushing herself outside the box.

“I’m pushing myself out of my comfort zone a little bit,” Kuhn said. “I’m three hours away from my family and friends. So, right now, I’m seeing what I’m capable of as well as getting an opportunity to support more brilliant young women. That’s what I’m most excited about.”

As for her last piece of advice for her former players at Point Park, Kuhn goes back to an old sentiment she told the team over the years.

“I always told the girls, I hope that they continue to leave the program better than they found it and continue to build off the successes that we’ve had in the past,” Kuhn said. “They need to continue to work hard, support each other and take care of each other. They need to make an impact both on and off the field. They did an excellent job of that throughout my time at Point Park — and they will continue to do well under their new coach, Bethany, who will be awesome for them.”