Chattanooga FC’s left-footed center-back Nathan Koehler has become a mainstay in the starting XI and a reliable defender for the club, but his journey to Chattanooga was anything but ordinary.
Born and raised in Augusta, Georgia, Nathan Koehler completed all of his schooling through high school in the United States. When the time came to decide where to pursue continuing his education and keep playing soccer, (amid pandemic-related scouting difficulties) he chose to bet on himself and moved overseas to Liverpool even though he had never visited the city.
“I had a few offers, but I thought to myself, I had to back myself and I believed that if I go over to the U.K., it’s a completely different start,” said Koehler. “No one knew me, which was a huge risk of course, but I could earn money, I could play and I could study at the same time, and university is only three years, so it was much easier. To be honest, it was the right call, and one of the best decisions I’ve ever made in my life.”
In the U.K., Koehler attended Liverpool John Moores University and spent time developing with Prescot Cables FC of the English Northern Premier League. With Prescot, he scored nine goals in 69 appearances, including his goal in his debut for the club in the FA Cup.
How his "LinkedIn-obsessed" sister became his unofficial agent
After graduating in June 2024 with a psychology degree, Koehler knew he wanted to return and play soccer in the U.S., but he continued playing at a high level, grinding, and training every day until his older sister, Elana, discovered CFC Head Coach Chris Nugent on LinkedIn.
"Some coaches in the U.S. weren’t really sure what non-league looked like, so they didn’t know what the level was," said Elana Koehler Richards in an interview with ChattanoogaFC.com. "We really lucked out with Chris Nugent because he knew exactly where Prescot was, he knew the level; he was wonderful."
"Chattanooga was one we had looked into because the fan base is excellent," Elana continued. "At [Prescot] Cables, the fans are so loving and so supportive, and I knew he would do really well in an environment with great supporters. Chattanooga obviously has a huge fan base, especially in [MLS] NEXT Pro, it’s just incredible. We thought ‘That would be a great place for him to play, it would be supportive,’ and I was able to connect with Chris Nugent on LinkedIn and I got some of his contact information."
From there, Elana sent Nugent's information to Nathan and suggested that he reach out.
“My sister, actually our whole family is really into football, but my sister is really into it, and she’s on LinkedIn,” said Nathan. “She is everywhere on LinkedIn, and she found Chris’ personal email on LinkedIn and she said ‘I looked into this team called Chattanooga and they have three center-backs right now. I think they could use a fourth. Here’s the manager’s email.’
“Usually that is a huge shot in the dark, it’s the first-team manager, he’s far too busy, but I thought ‘You know what, she sent me his email, I’m going to shoot my shot.’ So I sent him an email, I sent him my CV, the teams I’d played for and the accolades, and I sent over a highlight video from the last two seasons, and I waited. Not too long, he got back to me in like two or three days.”
Nathan was sitting on his couch in Liverpool when Nugent emailed him back asking if he could fly into Chattanooga just four days later for a 10-day trial, and he played in one trial match at the end of preseason against Tennessee Tempo.
“After that they said ‘We’d like to have you full-time,’ and that was the quickest 'yes' ever,” said Koehler. “I’m really, really happy with my decision.”
Chattanooga made things official and announced that the club had signed Koehler on March 14 to a one-year-contract with a club option for an additional year.
Since then, Koehler has made 20 appearances for CFC, totaled 1,669 minutes and has scored three goals this season. Most recently, he scored his first professional brace at Orlando City B on Saturday (August 9) to propel the Blues to a 2-2 draw and 4-2 shootout win for the extra point.
Chattanooga has been a great fit for Koehler, and the Augusta native has found a new home in the Scenic City.
"He is incredibly happy there," said Elana. "I mean, seriously, every day, we have a family group chat and he’ll text us about how training has gone and he just loves it. All of the coaching staff is so supportive. He loves all of the other players, he said they have a really uplifting dynamic where they challenge each other in training and he feels like they all grow together, which is just so special and has really been awesome for him in his first pro position to have such a supportive environment. And of course, the fans have been so wonderful to him and to us."
Elana said that she also grew up playing soccer in her earlier childhood and that she and Nathan have always been close despite their different interests. She's always been more into writing and research while Nathan's dream has always been soccer.
"His one dream has always been soccer," said Elana. "I mean, this is his dream, he’s been consistent the entire time. He’s really supportive of me and I try to be as supportive of him as I can. I’m just really proud of him."
Even though Elana and their mother missed Nathan's first professional brace against Orlando City B last Saturday, the whole family was present for his debut goal at Huntsville City FC.
"For us, of course we’re like ‘We’re going to wherever it is, so we’ll drive,’" said Elana. "That was just the greatest experience ever to have so many people with us be so excited for him. He was so excited. I always say I love it if he scores to put them ahead but of course, in that game, it was to tie it up, and that was even more exciting."
The Koehler family is as supportive as they come, and they've been going to watch Nathan's games as long as he's been playing. They were even able to hop across the pond for a few matches at Prescot, and they do their best to make it to as many CFC matches, home and away, as possible.
"Usually, my parents and I, and my husband if he’s free, usually we’ll get together and we’ll leave the house by 10:00 a.m. and we go through Atlanta," said Elana. "We stop there, get lunch, and then we’ll just finish the drive to Chattanooga. It’s usually between a four and five-hour drive if the traffic’s not bad. Sometimes with Atlanta traffic it’s five hours, but it’s nothing compared to the flight to England to go see the games.
"I did a little math and going to-and-from Finley Stadium this season so far (for just home games and cup games), we have covered about 5,698 miles," Elana continued. "I'm excited to try to go to as many of the rest of the matches this season as I can."
