Irene Carlquist

Biography

The 2026 season will mark the first at Eastern Michigan University for Irene Carlquist, who was hired as an assistant coach, Aug. 12, 2025. Carlquist brings a wealth of knowledge to the program as a former goalkeeper and head coach at the college and high school levels. Carlquist comes to Ypsilanti after two years as the head coach at Lees-McRae College, an NCAA Division II institution in Banner Elk, N.C. During her time with the Bobcats, she worked with nine individuals that earned Conference Carolina Fall Presidential Honor Roll accolades while playing 15 games during that span. Her first collegiate head coaching job came in 2023 when she was tabbed to lead Clarke University, an NAIA institution in Dubuque, Iowa. During her lone season, the Pride played to a 3-6 record overall and a 1-4 mark in Heart of America Athletic Conference play, culminating with a 21-1 home win to cap the season. Carlquist, who spent the 2022 season as the head coach of the varsity girls’ program at Fishers High School in Fishers, Ind., started her coaching career as an assistant coach at NCAA Division III Anderson University in Anderson, Ind. Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Carlquist was a four-year member of the University of Indianapolis program (2016-19) where she earned her degree in sport management. After the Greyhounds went 6-12 in her freshman season, the team made huge strides the remainder of her playing days as they increased their win total each year, posting records of 13-5 in 201