SPOKANE, Wash. – The Gonzaga soccer team announced the addition of Caleb Kiner Wednesday, set to join the Zags for the 2021 season.
 
"Caleb was highly pursued by some of the top programs in the country and for good reason," GU Head Coach Paul Meehan said. "He is a very athletic defender that can play centrally or wide and his experience with the USL and Development Academy Timbers is invaluable.  He is as great of a person as he is a player, his commitment to Gonzaga reflects a true team effort in particular from Coach Lewis, but also from our players, AD's and support staff.  I'm certain Caleb will have an impact right away and I know he is driven to continue to develop and get better between now and August."
 
Caleb Kiner
D | Dallas, Ore. | Dallas High School | Portland Timbers Academy
 
The Portland pipeline continues for Zags soccer with Caleb Kiner out of nearby Dallas High School. The Timbers academy product played both basketball and soccer for a year for the Dragons, when he was named an OSAA Athlete of the Week and All-League selection for soccer.
 
At only 18 years old, the 5'10 defender has also made appearances for Portland's USL League Two Portland Timbers U23 team in 2019 as well as their professional USL Championship side Portland Timbers 2, where he's started 8 times.
 
Kiner carries a 3.8 GPA — and although he is undecided on a major, he described GU as an "amazing environment" with "everything for you to succeed."
 
"I chose Gonzaga because of the amazing coaching staff that is there," he said. "I know they truly care about their players not just on the field but also outside the field. They care about player development and want to help us achieve our goals in any way that they can."