Pekel

Debbie Pekel joins the DME Academy, Sarasota Coaching Staff straight from the collegiate sidelines. Pekel is currently the Head Coach at Sarasota’s New College of Florida girls soccer program. Previously, Pekel coached at Bob Jones University as an Assistant Coach in South Carolina. As a player, she is one of the most decorated women’s soccer players in the history of Grace Christian University (MI). Debbie led all of NCCAA Division II in goals in 2013 (27 goals) and is Grace’s second all-time career scorer. During her senior season, she helped lead the Tigers to their first region championship in program history and their first national tournament appearance. The team finished the season as national runner-up, falling to the BJU Bruins 2-0 in the national championship.  She was the first women’s soccer player awarded 1st and 2nd Team All-America, along with being a 4x First Team Regional Player, 3x Captain, and the 2016 Mideast Regional MVP. She was a four-time All-Region player while also earning All-American honors twice in her career with the team.

After her playing career, Coach Pekel started coaching at various levels: Girls High School Varsity (Byron Center, Wyoming Tri-Unity Christian, and Western Michigan Christian), Youth Club (LFCIA SoCal, Pateadores NBCM, and Michigan Rangers FC), College (UPIKE, Grace Christian, and Bob Jones), and National Pro-Am/Arena (Muskegon Risers).

Coach Pekel holds her USSF C License, NSCAA Goalkeeping Level 1 & 2 Diplomas, and the NSCAA Advanced National Diploma. Coach Pekel was one of fifteen female coaches chosen for the prestigious United Soccer Coaches 30U30 group for 2021-2022.

Debbie has her Bachelor of Science in Human Services from Grace Christian University (2017) and her MBA from the University of Pikeville (2020).