Kayla Saager-Beckley: Former soccer star and coach dies unexpectedly

The family of Kayla Saager-Beckley, a former standout soccer player and coach, has released a statement following her sudden death on September 9. Saager-Beckley, 30, was found unresponsive after a workout in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Her death also resulted in the loss of her unborn daughter, Sawyer.

Saager-Beckley was a former captain at Binghamton University and played professionally in the Czech Republic for Slavia Sokolov. Following her collegiate career, she transitioned into coaching, including a four-year tenure at Troy University. Her husband, John Beckley, currently serves as an assistant coach for the University of Tulsa football program.

While an official cause of death has not been announced, the family has requested that those wishing to honor her memory make charitable donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or The Bee Foundation, an organization focused on brain aneurysm research and awareness.