Where did Big 12 coaches pick BYU women’s soccer in Jennifer Rockwood’s final season

PROVO — BYU women’s soccer will bid a fond goodbye to the program’s pioneer and only coach the Cougars have known in the Division I era this fall.

Head coach Jennifer Rockwood announced her retirement this summer, leading BYU to begin what it calls a national search for the second head coach in program history after one last year.

There were be plenty of tributes before then for Rockwood, who transferred to BYU in 1985 after a brief basketball career at Rick’s College and began her coaching career with the Cougars’ club program upon graduation three years later.

Rockwood guided BYU in its Division I transition in 1995 before leading the Cougars to 470 wins, 17 regular-season conference championships, nine tournament titles in four different leagues, 24 All-American citations and nine MAC Hermann Trophy candidates.

But where did Big 12 coaches pick BYU to finish in league play in Rockwood’s swan song to the program she built?

𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐁𝐈𝐆 𝟏𝟐 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 pic.twitter.com/T3S98NUgZr

— BYU Women's Soccer (@byusoccer_w) August 3, 2026

Walbruch, Kesler, Freeman lead BYU women’s soccer All-Big 12 preseason honors

Ellie Walbruch led the Cougars’ All-Big 12 preseason citations. The Cougars’ top scorer a year ago from Highland was joined by her cousin and midfielder Lucy Kesler, as well as starting outside back Presley Freeman, the former Gatorade Georgia player of the year who will be a junior this fall.

Walbruch had a career season a year ago, totaling 16 goals on 91 shots and 41 shots on target — all career-bests — for the former UCLA transfer coming off an ACL injury. That included her first career hat trick against Arizona and four multi-goal games en route to Big 12 Tournament most outstanding offensive player honors, a Big 12 Tournament title and All-Big 12 first-team selection and United Soccer Coaches second-team All-American.

Kesler started all 22 a year ago — she was selected to U-20 national team training camp for the other two — for the Cougars, totaling two goals and three assists out of the vital holding midfield role in front of BYU’s defense. The rising junior from American Fork High joined her cousin on the All-Big 12 first team and Big 12 All-Tournament squad, as well as All-Midwest regional honors by the United Soccer Coaches.

Freeman played in every game for the Cougars a year ago, scoring a career-high two goals with four assists on eight shots in 1,682 minutes. The Georgia native is the only current BYU player to start every game of the past two seasons, a 45-match streak dating back to the start of the 2024 season en route to All-Big 12 second-team honors in 2025.

#Big12SOC is right around the corner 👀⚽️ pic.twitter.com/6J2wFrLJ1k

— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) August 3, 2026

Where did Big 12 coaches pick BYU women’s soccer?

After finishing eighth in the conference a year ago before winning the Big 12 Tournament, conference coaches selected the Cougars to finish sixth in 2026.

Defending regular-season champion TCU was picked to win the conference with 222 votes, including 13 of 16 first-place votes.

Colorado, West Virginia and Texas Tech split the other three first-place votes, while Kansas joined the top five in a tie for second with the Mountaineers.

BYU’s 164 points for sixth place are the second-most of a team that did not receive a first-place vote.

Utah was picked 11th with 77 points, behind Baylor, UCF, Arizona State and Houston.

When does BYU open the 2026 season?

BYU’s 2026 season begins with an exhibition match Saturday, Aug. 8 against Idaho State (7 p.m. MT, South Field). The regular season kicks off next Wednesday, Aug. 12 at UCLA before the home opener Saturday, Aug. 22 against USC — the first of four-straight home games and five in the state of Utah to close out nonconference play.