The University of Akron Athletics
Staff Directory
Clara Knöpke
- Title:
- Assistant Soccer Coach
- Email:
- Phone:
- (330) 972-7651
Clara Knöpke is in her first season on the Zips’ coaching staff in 2026 after serving as the past two seasons as a graduate assistant in strength and conditioning at Sacred Heart University.
Born and raised in Stuttgart Germany, Clara has dedicated her life to sports, with 18 years of experience playing soccer, including time in professional leagues. Her journey took a significant turn after high school when she moved to the United States to pursue her passion for soccer at the collegiate level, playing Division I soccer at The University of Akron (2021-24). However, several knee injuries forced Clara to end her playing career prematurely. This pivotal moment led her to channel her passion into helping college athletes reach their full potential and maintain their health through performance coaching.
Clara pursued a bachelor of science in exercise science with a specialization in strength and conditioning at Akron, where she also minored in psychology. During her senior year, she interned as a strength and conditioning coach, gaining hands-on experience working with football and Olympic sports teams.
In addition to her collegiate experience, Clara returned to Germany during the summer of 2023 to coach at the German Sports Academy in Stuttgart. There, she provided training across various sports, including soccer, swimming, and handball.
Clara further expanded her expertise through an internship with the European Football League's Stuttgart Surge.
She earned her master's degree in sport science from Sacred Heart University in 2026.
She is an NSCA certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) and holds CPR/AED and first aid certifications from the American Red Cross.
Born and raised in Stuttgart Germany, Clara has dedicated her life to sports, with 18 years of experience playing soccer, including time in professional leagues. Her journey took a significant turn after high school when she moved to the United States to pursue her passion for soccer at the collegiate level, playing Division I soccer at The University of Akron (2021-24). However, several knee injuries forced Clara to end her playing career prematurely. This pivotal moment led her to channel her passion into helping college athletes reach their full potential and maintain their health through performance coaching.
Clara pursued a bachelor of science in exercise science with a specialization in strength and conditioning at Akron, where she also minored in psychology. During her senior year, she interned as a strength and conditioning coach, gaining hands-on experience working with football and Olympic sports teams.
In addition to her collegiate experience, Clara returned to Germany during the summer of 2023 to coach at the German Sports Academy in Stuttgart. There, she provided training across various sports, including soccer, swimming, and handball.
Clara further expanded her expertise through an internship with the European Football League's Stuttgart Surge.
She earned her master's degree in sport science from Sacred Heart University in 2026.
She is an NSCA certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) and holds CPR/AED and first aid certifications from the American Red Cross.
Wednesday, July 22
Wednesday, July 22
Wednesday, July 22
Wednesday, July 22
