Bio

Lionel Karyea began his coaching career with the V-Hawks in 2020 and enters his fourth season on Coach Pirnstill's staff. Karyea is currently the assistant director of coaching for the Mississippi Valley Storm and head girls’ coach at West Salem High School.

Prior to his current positions, Karyea has coached the Sparta High School (WI) boys’ junior varsity soccer team and the varsity and junior varsity girls’ soccer teams at La Crescent High School (MN). Karyea was the assistant director of coaching at the Dubuque Soccer Club (IA) for three years.

Karyea graduated from Dakota Wesleyan University (SD) with an undergraduate degree in sport management. He played on the men’s soccer team, starting 46 matches as a defender from 2012-2015 for the Tigers, playing one season with Viterbo Men’s Soccer alum Yoshi Kogiso in 2015. Dakota Wesleyan made the GPAC Tournament all four seasons. Karyea went on to play three seasons of semi-pro soccer.

A resident of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota growing up, Karyea was born in Liberia, on the west coast of Africa. He came to the United States when he was 12 years old.

“My goal is to help develop the players and team each year and help this team grow and accomplish the goals we set for ourselves. I love the game, I love being around it. If I’m not coaching I’m either playing or watching soccer.”