Genessee Puntigam

Biography

Genessee Puntigam enters her third season as an assistant coach for the Rice soccer team in 2026. The 2025 campaign saw the Owls reach the American Championship Game, following a 1-0 win over Tulsa in the quarterfinal and a 0-0 (6-5 PK) win over South Florida in the semifinal. Rice reached 10 wins for consecutive seasons and spent several weeks in the national top 25. During the 2024 season, Puntigam helped lead the Owls to their first AAC Tournament trip and AAC Tournament game victory with a 2-0 win over UAB in the AAC Quarterfinals. The Owls also had a nine-game win improvement from the previous season, securing 12 wins on the season, the fifth-most wins for Rice in program history. The staff's efforts on the season earned them the AAC Coaching Staff of the Year award. Puntigam arrived to South Main after spending the prior nine years playing professional soccer. She began her playing career with Montpellier HSC in France, twice helping them to a runner-up finish in the Coupe de France as well as a runner-up in Feminine Division I. After joining Vittsjo GIK, she spent a year stateside with LA Galaxy OC of the United Women’s Soccer League. She then went back overseas, joining Dijon FCO. Most recently she spent a year with FC Koln as a member of Bundesliga. Puntigam played collegiately at Cal from 2010-13, where she was a key member of the Bears back line that made four straight NCAA appearances. She made 75 starts and was named Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention in 2011.