Ryane Clawson

Katelyn Longino is entering her fourth season as an assistant coach with the University of Iowa soccer program.  She joined the Hawkeyes in 2018 following coaching stints at Valparaiso, Xavier, and Columbus State. In three seasons, Longino has helped the program to 30 victories, two NCAA Tournament appearances and the first Big Ten title in school history. During the 2020 season, Longino helped the team to its second straight NCAA Tournament berth.  After starting the season slowly, the Hawkeyes were playing their best soccer when matter most in the postseason. With an expanded Big Ten postseason schedule due to league-only scheduling because of COVID, the Hawkeyes posted wins over second-seeded Illinois and third-seeded Minnesota in the Big Ten Regional weekend.  The team followed with a road win at top-seeded Penn State in the Big Ten Tournament semifinals before downing third-seeded Wisconsin to claim the programs first-ever Big Ten title. The win in Happy Valley was the first for the program in school history and the fourth-ranked Nittany Lions were the highest ranked opponent Iowa defeated all-time.  Two freshmen forward Meike Ingles and goalkeeper Macy Enneking were named the Big Ten Tournament Most Outstanding Offensive and Defensive Players, respectively.  Ingles scored three-game winners in the tournament, while Enneking posted two shutouts and made 14 saves. As a result, the Hawkeyes earned their second straight NCAA Tournament berth, and they continued to make history.  Shipped to North Carolina, Iowa tallied a 1-0 victory over Campbell on the Camels home turf to notch the first NCAA Tournament win in the record books.  Iowa had third-seeded UCLA on the ropes in the Round of 32 before surrendering two goals late in a 2-1 defeat. Iowa finished the season with a 7-9-1 record, but all seven of the victories came in the teams final 10 games.  Enneking was a unanimous Big Ten All-Freshman team honoree. Academically, Iowa matched a school record with 19 Academic All-Big Ten selections, eight Hawkeyes were Big Ten Distinguished Scholars, the program had 31 Deans List honorees (in fall and spring semesters), and the program earned the United Soccer Team Academic Award, posting a 3.49 team grade point average. During the 2019 season, Longino helped guide Iowa to one of the best seasons in program history.  The Hawkeyes opened the season with nine straight wins en route to a No. 17 national ranking, the highest in program history.  Iowa tied a school record, winning 15 games, including seven in Big Ten play, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history. The Hawkeyes tied a school record with three All-Big Ten selections and senior Natalie Winters became the first player in program history to earn postseason recognition in all four seasons.  Winters was also an all-region honoree for the second straight season. Iowa was one of the Big Tens most potent offenses, ranking second in the league and 26th nationally.  The Hawkeyes had an NCAA-best 16 different goal scorers in 2019.  Defensively, Iowa posted eight shutouts and limited opponents to seven or fewer shots in 13 games. The Hawkeyes shined academically as Iowa was the only school in the country to have two first-team Academic All-Americans.  Iowa also had three United Soccer Academic All-Region and a school-record 19 Academic All-Big Ten selections. During her first season in Iowa City, Longino helped the Hawkeyes to an 8-7-3 overall record and a 4-5-2 mark in Big Ten play.  Iowa was in Big Ten Tournament contention until the final game, but fell short after battling Northwestern to a 1-1 draw.  Junior Natalie Winters was a third-team all-region and third-team All-Big Ten selection Iowas first all-region honoree since 2014. In the classroom, Iowa earned the United Soccer Team Academic Award for a 12th straight season and the Hawkeyes had two Google Cloud Academic All-Americans the first two in program history.  Kaleigh Haus was a first-team selection; Hannah Drkulec earned second-team honors.  Iowa also had 10 players earn Academic All-Big Ten honors, 25 players with a 3.0 GPA or better, 14 Deans List, and four Presidents List honorees during the spring semester. Longino spent the 2017 season with the Crusaders in their first season in the Missouri Valley Conference.  Valpo won nine games and finished 3-4 in MVC play.  She spent the 2016 season at Xavier, helping the Muskateers to seven wins. Longino played as a freshman at Columbus State, helping the team to 18 wins and a berth in the NCAA Division II Sweet 16.  From there, she transitioned into coaching, serving as a student assistant for two seasons, helping guide CSU to a 21-1-1 record and an Elite Eight appearance in 2014. In her final year at Columbus State, Longino served as an intern in the athletics department, working directly with womens soccer as the team won 22 matches and reached the national championship match. Longino, who holds a USSF C coaching license, has held coaching positions with the Ohio Elite Soccer Association, CFC Red Star, and Columbus Youth Soccer. She graduated from Columbus State in 2016 with a bachelors degree in exercise science and she received her masters degree in coaching education and athlete development from Xavier in 2018.

Freeman just finished his thirteenth season overall with the Fighting Illini and sixth as the soccer programs Associate Head Coach in 2023.  In 2019 Freeman was also named the program's recruiting coordinator.  Illinois has reached at least the second round of the NCAA Tournament in three of the years he has been on staff, highlighted by a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2013. Freeman helped to coach standout Vanessa DiBernardo earn a pair of All-America honors and saw Jannelle Flaws lead the country and break the school record for goals scored. The Illini have turned in two of the top four single-season goal totals in school history during Freemans tenure in Champaign. The Orange and Blue netted 54 goals in 2013 and 53 goals in 2011, which rank third and fourth, respectively, on the all-time list. UI boasts an overall record of 71-23-9 over the past six seasons with four NCAA Tournament appearances, a Big Ten Tournament title in 2011 and a Big Ten Tournament runner-up finish in 2012. In 2014, Illinois finished with a 10-8-2 record on the season. With Freemans assistance, Illini redshirt senior Jannelle Flaws was named Disney Soccer/NSCAA National Player of the Week, the first Illini to ever earn the recognition. Flaws continued on to be named the unanimous Big Ten Forward of the year for the second-straight season. She led the Big Ten and tied for 12th in the NCAA with 17 goals, also being tabbed a third-team NSCAA All-American. In 2013, Freeman helped guide the Illini to their fourth trip to the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen in school history, as they finished 11-9-3 overall. He coached Big Ten Forward of the Year Jannelle Flaws to a school-record 23 goals, which was tied for the most in the NCAA. Vanessa DiBernardo, who became Illinois highest drafted player in school history following the season, completed her decorated career No. 3 on the all-time list with 43 goals, with Freeman coaching her during three of four seasons. In 2012, Freeman served as the interim head coach for the non-conference portion of the schedule while Rayfield was coaching with U.S. Soccers U-20 National Team at the World Cup. Freeman helped coach the Illini to the NCAA Tournament where they advanced to the second round after knocking off neighbor-state rival Missouri. Freeman also helped guide the Illini to their fifth Big Ten Tournament title game. In addition, Freeman took the reigns of the Illini program for the first seven games of the season against one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the country. Illinois finished 10-9-4 on the year. In 2011, Freeman was integral in the process of implementing the formation changes that led the Orange and Blue to a 17-5-2 overall record, the most wins in a single season in school history and a Big Ten Tournament title victory over No. 11 Penn State. Freeman worked with both the offensive and defensive units throughout the season, also serving as a key contributor to the Illinois recruiting efforts while performing additional administrative and travel-related duties. Freeman brought a wealth of experience and tactical expertise to Champaign, Illinois, after serving as a member of the University of Miami (Fla.) womens soccer staff from 2004-10, including the final three years as the associate head coach. He played a prominent role in Miami earning conference and national recognition with top-25 rankings and back-to-back appearances in the 2007-08 NCAA Tournaments. Freeman joined the Hurricanes staff after serving as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Missouri State, for four years. The Bears goalkeeping units earned Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Defensive Player of the Year and conference tournament MVP honors in addition to weekly MVC defensive accolades under Freemans tutelage, while Missouri State won the MVC crown and earned its first NCAA Tournament appearance with Freemans guidance. As a student-athlete at Missouri State, Freeman earned academic all-conference recognition as a goalkeeper with the Bears and was a member of the 1997 squad that made the programs first NCAA Tournament appearance after earning a top-10 national ranking and the MVC regular season title. Freeman, who earned a bachelors and masters in education from Missouri State, is accredited as a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) `A Licensed Coach and holds a NSCAA Advanced National Diploma. He has served as a clinician at the USC (NSCAA) Conventions from 2014-2019.

Sobers is a name some remember from his playing days on the WSU men's soccer team and joined the women's program in the fall of 2013. Sobers, who starred for the WSU mens team 1998-2001, has had numerous coaching and playing experiences on the club and high school levels.  Among those recent coaching positions have been the North Warren County Alliance Academy Director and coach of the U-13 Club as well as Ohio Galaxies Premier Soccer U-17 Club.  He also coached at Bellbrook High School and played professionally for the Cincinnati Kings.  While playing at WSU, he was named First Team All Ohio.  He has a bachelors degree in organizational leadership in 2003 and recently completed work for an NSCAA National diploma.

Kelly Farrell enters her fourth season as the associate head coach of the Omaha womens soccer program and her sixth season overall with the Mavericks in the Fall of 2022. Farrell spent two seasons as an assistant coached before being promoted to her current role. In five seasons, Farrell and the Mavericks have set multiple program records. The Mavericks have posted the programs best winning percentage and most division 1 era wins in back-to-back seasons. The Mavericks have collected 17 All-Summit Team accolades and Omaha has earned the United Coaches Team Academic Award in five consecutive seasons. Farrell is part of the Omaha coaching staff that led the Mavericks to their third Summit League Tournament berth and second championship match appearances in four seasons. Omaha posted an 8-5-5 overall record with an 8-4-4 finish in league action to secure the third seed in the tournament in the spring of 2021. The Mavericks advanced to the championship match after winning 3-1 in penalty kicks vs. No. 2 South Dakota State. They were regionally ranked for the first time in program history and stayed in the top ten for five weeks straight that spring. The Mavericks garnered two major conference awards in the spring: Goalkeeper of the Year and Rookie of the Year, and had six players honored as all-conference. Two players were named First Team All-Region Selections, as well as two freshman named to Top Drawer Soccers Top 100 list. The Mavericks followed that up with a third place finish in the fall of 2021, losing in double OT to SDSU in the Summit League Championship Semifinal. In just her second season at Omaha, Farrell was a member of the coaching staff that led the Mavericks to the programs first berth in the Summit League Tournament in 2018. Omaha knocked off top-seeded South Dakota State 3-1 in the opening round to advance to the Summit League Final against Denver before falling to the second-seeded Pioneers. Prior to Omaha, Farrell spent one season as the associate head coach at UAB, three seasons at Georgia Southern and two seasons at Monmouth. In the fall of 2016, Farrell helped double the UAB programs win total and increased point production by 23%. At Georgia Southern, the 2014 season marked the best season in Eagle program history, including the best record since 2022, the best conference start and conference record since 2022, most goals since 2022, first win over a power 5 opponent since 2000, most points by a single player since 2008, and the highest RPI finish in school history at 74 - a 162 spot jump from the previous year.  In her two seasons at Monmouth, Farrell helped the Hawks to back-to-back 10-win seasons and had 14 Hawks named to the NEC All Conference Teams. Before arriving at Monmouth, she spent one season as the director of soccer operations at Loyola (Md.). Farrell is a former All-Metro Athletic Conference (MAAC) performer at Loyola (Md.) and holds a USSF B coaching license, NSCAA Advanced National and was named to the 2014-15 NSCAA 30 under 30 coaching program. Farrell earned All-MAAC recognition all four seasons with the Greyhounds, capped by her All-MAAC First Team selection as a senior, where she started all 20 games as an outside midfielder and tallied a team-high seven assists. A two-time team co-captain, Farrell started all 23 matches as a junior en route to her All-MAAC Second Team selection for a second straight season. As a sophomore the midfielder earned Second-Team all-conference honors starting all 20 games. In her first season with Loyola, Farrell was added to the MAAC All-Rookie Team. During her career with the Greyhounds, the Oceanside, New York native compiled 10 goals, 15 assists and 35 points in 78 matches, while adding five game-winners. She helped lead the Greyhounds to two NCAA appearances, three MAAC regular season championships, and two MAAC tournament titles. She still holds spots in the all-time top ten at Loyola for career assists, career game winning goals, assists in a season, assists per game in a season, and is number one in games played and games started in a season.  Farrell, who graduated with a degree in communications, earned 11 varsity letters during her prep career at Oceanside (N.Y.) High School. Farrell earned five letters in soccer and three each in track and field and lacrosse. She was inducted into the Oceanside HS Athletics Hall of Fame, the "Circle of Pride" in November 2021.  An All-Nassau County and All-Class AA player in soccer, Farrell played club soccer for the Albertson Fury and was a member of the Eastern New York ODP team and the Region 1 team. 

Dirk Bennett was hired as the seventh head coach in Eastern Illinois women's soccer history on Feb. 10, 2023.  Bennett, a two-time EIU graduate, previously served as the Panthers assistant women's soccer coach since July of 2019.    [Dirk Bennett Hire Release](https://eiupanthers.com/news/2023/2/10/bennett-hired-as-eiu-womens-soccer-head-coach.aspx) Eastern Illinois  * Hired as seventh head coach in program history on Feb. 10, 2023 * Hired as assistant women's soccer coach in July of 2019 * Coached sixth season on EIU women's soccer staff in 2022-23 * Served as a volunteer assistant coach for EIU women's soccer from 2016-18 * Helped coach team to a 0.81 Goals Against Average in 2022, third best single season mark in school history * Helped coach team to a school record four shutouts to open the season in 2022 * Helped coach team to a school record eight ties in 2022 which ranked in the top five in the NCAA * Helped coach EIU women's program to third place finish in OVC in 2018 & OVC Tournament semifinal appearance * Helped coach women's program to second straight OVC Tournament appearance in 2019 * Helped coach three All-Ohio Valley Conference selections (first team Sara Teteak) * Helped coach OVC Defensive Player of the Year Sara Teteak in 2019 * Helped coach eight second team All-OVC selections  * Helped coach EIU to OVC Tournament appearances in 2018, 2019 and 2021 * Volunteer assistant coach for men's soccer program from 2015-18 * Helped coach men's team to three straight Summit League Tournament appearances * Helped coach men's team to 2-2-1 Summit League record in 2017, first .500 or better conference mark since 2000  * Helped coach men's team to Regional ranking during 2017 season * Helped coach Summit League Goalkeeper of the Year, Mke Novotny in 2018 * Helped coach two first team All-Summit League performers (Mike Novotny & Edgar Mesa) * Helped coach two second team All-Summit League performers * Helped coach seven All-Summit League Newcomer Team selections * Helped coach four Summit League All-Tournament selections Prior to Eastern Illinois  * Athletic Supervisor for City of Charleston * Executive Director of Eastern Illinois FC Personal * Bachelor's Degree from Eastern Illinois University in 2010 * Masters Degree from Eastern Illinois University in 2012 * USSF "C" License * NSCAA Premier Diploma * NSCAA Goalkeeping Level I * NSCAA LGBT Diversity & Inclusion Diploma * Board Member Central Illinois Youth Soccer League * Inspire! UK "Top 10 Coaches Under 30" London Conference Invitee in 2014 * NCCAA Bob Seddon Fund Scholarship

Pierce is in his seventh season as head women's soccer coach at Wisconsin Lutheran College. Pierce previously coached the Warriors in 1996 and 1997 before resuming his role as head coach in 2012. In his return to WLC in 2012, Pierce guided the Warriors to an overall record of 8-8-3, including a 5-6-1 mark in NACC play. Following a slow start, the Warriors finished strong by going 7-3-2 over their final 12 games. The eight wins were the most for Wisconsin Lutheran since 2002, while the five conference victories were the highest total since 2001. In six seasons as head coach, Pierce has coached 12 players who've earned various all-conference awards. Pierce has a wealth of collegiate coaching experience at both the NCAA Division I and III levels. He served as head men's and women's soccer coach for two seasons (2010-2011) at fellow NACC member Lakeland College before returning to WLC. Prior to coaching at Lakeland, Pierce spent six seasons (2004-2009) as an assistant men's soccer coach at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Pierce has also held head coaching positions at Milwaukee School of Engineering, Concordia University Chicago, and Midland College (Texas), and served as an assistant at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. During the 1996 and 1997 seasons, Pierce served as the second head coach in Wisconsin Lutheran College women's soccer history. He posted a .444 winning percentage during his two seasons, which is the highest of any WLC women's soccer coach. In his first season, Wisconsin Lutheran finished 11-9, which included a 9-5 conference mark for third place in the former Lake Michigan Conference. A student-athlete at the University of Connecticut from 1980-1984, Pierce was a member of the Huskies' 1981 NCAA Division I Championship soccer squad. Pierce also played a role in a pair of national semifinal appearances in 1982 and 1983. He played goalkeeper for the Milwaukee Wave from 1985-1993, where he was a three-time All-Pro Goalkeeper. He was inducted into the Milwaukee Wave Hall of Fame in 2010. Pierce graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran College in 1998 with a degree in education. He and his wife, Marcia, have three children, Nick, Pearl, and Hanna.

Nelson enters his 23rd season with the Southeast Missouri womens soccer program and his 15th year as the teams associate head coach. Paul and his wife Heather, head coach of the Southeast womens soccer team, has built the Redhawk womens soccer program from the ground up since its inception in 1999.  Nelson has drawn on his extensive playing and coaching experience from every level juniors to professional providing plenty of valuable guidance along the way.  Together with his wife, the Nelsons have built a program on the foundation of quality student-athletes. In 22 seasons, the Redhawks have compiled a .593 winning percentage going 165-107-40. Southeast's Ohio Valley Conference record is an even more impressive 76-38-23 (.648).   He helped lead the Redhawks to Ohio Valley Conference regular season championships in 2001, 2002, 2007, 2011, 2014, 219 Southeast also registered back-to-back OVC Tournament titles and NCAA Womens Soccer Cup appearances in 2006 and 2007.   Prior to Southeast, Nelson spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Florida State and two years at the Canadian western-based National Training Center. In addition, he was an assistant coach for Canadas Olympic team in 1994.   Nelson first entered the professional ranks in 1977 and enjoyed 13 competitive seasons at that level. He played in the once-heralded North American Soccer League (NASL) during both the indoor and outdoor seasons and competed in the Irish Premier Division. Nelson signed with the NASLs Vancouver Whitecaps at the age of 18, where he had the opportunity to play with and against some of the best players in the world, including Pele, Beckenbauer and Cryuff.   In 2011, Nelson, his teammates and staff from the Whitecaps were inducted into the Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum as the 1979 Whitecaps earned the 2011 Team of Distinction Award. The Whitecaps went 20-10 that season and claimed the NASLs Soccer Bowl with a 2-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rowdies in front of 66,843 fans at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.   As a staff coach for British Columbia Soccer, Nelson boasted one of the best amateur soccer coaching records in Canada. His coaching successes include gold medals from the 1991 Western Canadian Championships and the 1993 Canada Matches.   In 1999, Nelson served as assistant coach of the American Soccer Leagues Vancouver 86ers reserve team.   He and his wife, Heather, have four children, Jordan, Taylor, Justi and Chase.

Native of Paraguay, played in the national league. Coach at Wheaton North HS for 7 years ( Boys) Coach at West Chicago HS since 1998. Now head coach of the girls program in West Chicago. Coach at Wheaton College since 2003. 6 aperance in the final four of the ncaa tournament. 3 time National  Champions with the Thunders. Now assistant and goalie coach for the womens team.

Joe Sagar is the new head women's soccer coach at Lawrence University. A native of Manchester, England, Sagar has been working at Augustana since the 2014 season. During his four seasons with the Augustana women's program, the Vikings put together a 44-26-4 record and made one NCAA Division III Tournament appearance. Sagar was a standout goalkeeper at McKendree University in Lebanon, Ill., and is the school's career record holder in saves (205), goals against average (0.90), victories (50) and shutouts (19). Sagar earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from McKendree in 2012 and graduated with a master's degree in educational leadership with an emphasis in higher education administration from the University of Nevada-Reno in 2014. Before attending college, Sagar played professional soccer in Great Britain. He played with Glasgow Rangers FC for two years and helped that team win the Scottish Premier League Under 19 title and the Scottish Premier League Youth Cup in 2007. He also played for Porthmadog FC in the Welsh Premier League and made starting appearances for Porthmadog in the Welsh Cup.

Ajani Clunie was selected as Head Coach in April of 2020 for the Bloodhounds women's soccer program. Over the past 5 years, Clunie has helped build a new foundation for the program. He was promoted to Associate Head Coach in May of 2019, and worked as an assistant from 2014 while being responsible for recruiting, player development, and practice/game day operations. For the last two seasons he has lead the Bloodhounds to the Division 3 NCAA regional tournament as CUNYAC Conference Champions (2019, 2021, 2022). Ajani is also a member of the D3 Regional Advisory Committee for Region IV in women's soccer.    Outside of his role at John Jay, Clunie was a coach with South Bronx United from 2011 working with Boys U11, U12 & U13. Until managing and coaching the Girls U19 team from 2014-2017.  Along with coaching for South Bronx United, Clunie was the City in the Community Coordinator a program established by NYCFC where he facilitated after school programming and curriculum for elementary and middle school students. The program focused on teaching healthy nutrition and eating habits for students through the game of soccer. He was one of the inaugural coaches for the New York Cosmos Training and Development Program from 2013-2016. While with the Cosmos, he was a coach and trainer for the U9 girls and U13 boys at Rivertowns United Football Club in Ardsley, NY.  He was responsible for planning and running developmental training sessions twice a week, along with managing games with the Head Coach. Clunies love of the game brought him to work as a Game Day Marketing Volunteer for the New York Red Bulls from 2010-2012. Along with his passion for soccer, Ajani has a desire and will to identify and develop top talent from the NY, NJ, CT and Metro Area.   The Brooklyn, NY native, earned a Bachelors Degree in Broadcasting and Mass Communications from SUNY Oswego in 2007. He completed his Masters Degree in Sport Management from Brooklyn College in 2012.  He holds a FA Level 1 coaching badge and NSCAA level 5 Diploma, and plans to continue his coaching education overseas in the near future with his UEFA badges.

Head Women's Soccer Coach - Millikin University Former Head Women's Soccer Coach - Wesleyan College (Macon, GA) Former Assistant Women's Soccer Coach - Wittenberg University (Springfield, OH) Former Assistant Men's Soccer Coach - Otterbein University (Westerville, OH)

Kyle Quintell is in his third year as an assistant on the Lakeland mens soccer coaching staff and has been promoted to director of operations for both the Muskies mens and womens soccer programs. In addition to serving as an assistant coach with both teams, Quintell handles day-to-day operations for both programs with his duties including the oversight of recruiting, fundraising efforts, academic support, scheduling and travel. He steps into a full-time role at Lakeland after two years as the mens programs graduate assistant. He also assisted with the womens soccer team in the 2021 season when Head Mens Soccer Coach Rick Mobley was the womens teams interim coach.

Coach Emma (Lundeen) Woodley enters her third season as head coach of the North Park University women's soccer team in 2022, marking her sixth year as a coach with the program. Woodley is certainly no stranger to NPU women's soccer. A four-year letter winner and 2015 NPU Female Athlete of the Year, Woodley earned First Team All-College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) recognition; the first time a Viking was named to the First Team in over 15 years. Woodley broke the single-season record for goals scored during her illustrious senior campaign, marking a league-leading 17. In that 2014 season, Woodley led the league in points (37), points per game (2.06), and goals per game (0.94). Woodley finalized her decorated career with a program second-best 29 goals while breaking the single-season mark for points in a year (37). Upon graduating from North Park in 2015, Woodley joined the Viking coaching staff as a graduate assistant. She rejoined the women's soccer program, while continuing to serve as an admissions counselor, for the 2019 season.

Eric Natwick grew up playing soccer in northeastern Wisconsin, and then played four years at St. Norbert College (De Pere, WI) earning an all-conference award. Post playing career, Eric has coached a variety of age levels across the different levels of play, from 3-4 year olds playing for the first time, to high school girls at the MRL level (De Pere Select).   Recently, Eric was named the Coaching Director for AC Toros of Milwaukee Kickers.  He is also in his fourth year as an Assistant Coach with the University of Wisconsin-Parkside Women's Soccer Team (Kenosha, WI).

Eddie Garza was named the head coach of the Concordia University Chicago women's soccer team in January of 2022. Garza comes to Concordia University Chicago after spending the last five seasons on the Northern Illinois University womens soccer staff. In 2021 he served as the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator for the Huskies.   During his time at NIU, Garza introduced a possession-based style of soccer. Garza coached over 50 Academic All-MAC honorees while with the Huskies. Garza coached a number of All-Conference players during his tenure at Northern Illinois. One of the biggest highlights while at NIU was helping to guide the Huskies to an overtime victory over Marquette in 2019 which was NIUs first win over a Big East school in 14 years. Garza returned to the college ranks at NIU after guiding the Ashford University womens soccer program to a highly successful campaign in 2015. He led Ashford to a 14-5-1 record and an Association of Independent Institutions (A.I.I.) Tournament Championship, which earned Ashford a spot in the NAIA National Tournament.  During his tenure at Ashford, Garza coached five all-conference honorees along with the A.I.I. Player of the Year (2015), A.I.I. Goalkeeper of the year (2015) and A.I.I. Defender of the year (2015). In addition, Ashford had three United Soccer Coaches Midwest All-Region honorees and a NAIA honorable mentioned All-American (Alicia Tamburro, 2015).  Garza was named the 2015 Association of Independent Institutions Coach of the Year.  Prior to taking over the womens program at Ashford, Garza was an assistant coach for the mens team at Ashford from 2010 through 2015. During his time with the mens program, Garza helped guide Ashford to four NAIA national tournament appearances, which included three Round of 16 appearances and a semifinalist finish in 2013.  Before arriving at NIU, Garza had been the Youth Academy Director for the Rockford Raptors Soccer Club, a position he began in early 2016. Garza has been an active staff coach with Illinois ODP since 2015 and currently holds a National B License from the United States Soccer Federation. Garza earned his bachelor's degree in sports and recreation management in 2010 and his master's degree in organizational management in 2012 from Ashford University.

Shaun Soderling joined the Kansas soccer staff in January 2024. Soderling most recently served as the head coach of the womens soccer program at NAIA Brescia University in Owensboro, Kentucky from 2020-23. Prior to Brescia, Soderling worked at Division II Alderson Broaddus University as the recruiting coordinator for the mens team and a scout for the womens team from 2014-20. In addition to coaching, Soderling was the director of operations for the mens soccer team at Evansville from Jan. 2013 to July 2014. He operated the teams networking efforts, coordinated community service opportunities for elementary schools in the area, and assisted in the daily operation of team activities. Before becoming a coach at the collegiate level, Soderling worked at three high schools, including Vincennes Lincoln High School (Ind.), Henderson County High School (Ky.) and North Knox High School (Ind.). In addition to coaching at the collegiate and high school levels, Soderling has 20 years of coaching at the club level that dates back to 2003. He most recently coached with Racing Louisville's Youth Academy.

Roshane Ellison will embark on his tenth year as Illinois Institute of Technology head women's soccer coach in 2024. (103-52-14, seven seasons) Ellison's debut season as head coach in 2015 resulted in the women's soccer program's first USCAA National Championship appearance, where they held opponents to just 0.96 goals allowed per game. The Scarlet Hawks have accumulated four USCAA All-Americans, 18 All-Association of Division III Independents selections, one Association of Division III Independents Co-Defensive Player of the Year, one Association of Division III Independents Co-Goalkeeper of the Year, and one Association of Division III Independents Rookie of the Year throughout Ellison's tenure as head coach. Since 2018, Ellison has produced 12 All-NACC selections, 61 NACC Scholar Athletes, one NACC Freshman of the Year and two United Soccer Coaches All-Central Region honorees. The Scarlet Hawks reached the 2018 NACC Tournament Championship Game, which marked their first season in the conference.  Ellison previously served as an assistant coach with the Illinois Tech women's soccer program for one season in 2014 after a two-season stint as graduate assistant men's and women's soccer coach at NCAA Division II East Stroudsburg University in 2011 and 2012. While a GA with the ESU soccer programs, Ellison also held coaching stints with the Keystone Athletic and FC Pocono academies. He also boasts playing experience with the Pocono Snow FC and FC Sonic of Lehigh Valley in the National Premier Soccer League.  Ellison was a four-year member of the East Stroudsburg men's soccer program from 2005-2008; and concluded his career as a four-year starter, three-time All-PSAC selection, two-time PSAC Champion, and five-time PSAC Player of the Week. The 2008 season resulted in being named NSCAA Atlantic Region Player of the Year, and a spot on the NSCAA All-America Third Team.  Ellison received his bachelors degree in hotel and business management from East Stroudsburg University in 2010. He went on to earn a masters degree in management and leadership, also from East Stroudsburg, in 2012. He is a United Soccer Coaches member who holds certification and special diplomas in technical development of competitive players, building team cultures, attacking transitions and counter attack, speed of play, goalkeeping level one, and 4v4/small-sided games.

The Sussex, Wisconsin, native arrives on campus after most recently serving as Director of Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) for FC Wisconsin, one of multiple individuals in that role.  He oversaw the regional league program for the only ECNL for the only club in the state participating in the organization.  He was involved with player development, coaching and membership engagement.   Prior to his most recent position with FC Wisconsin, Sikinger worked in a variety of coaching and administrative positions with Strike FC Wisconsin since 2013.  He also served as the girls varsity head coach at Germantown High School since 2010, guiding numerous players to the collegiate ranks.   A 2010 graduate of Cardinal Stritch University with a degree in sociology, Sikinger was a member of the mens soccer program for two seasons (2007-08).  He spent his first two years at UW-Whitewater and was also on the varsity team with the Warhawks.

Gamarra joins the North Central women's soccer coaching staff in 2016 as the Cardinals head coach.  Previously, Andrew was the head women's coach at the Sage Colleges in Albany, New York.   In his two years as head coach, Gamarra has helped the women's soccer program achieve new levels of success. In his first season, he led the team to a record of 12-6-2, while the squad earned post-season play in both the Skyline Conference Tournament and the ECAC Division III Metro Tournament. By season's end, Gamarra had earned Skyline Conference Coach of the Year honors after leading the team to the semifinals of both the Skyline and ECAC tournament. Most recently, Sage's women's soccer team finished the 2015 campaign with a share of the program's first Skyline Conference regular-season championship after an 8-1 record. Sage fell in the Skyline Conference semifinals in penalty kicks and capped the record-setting season with a 14-4-1 mark. The 14 wins is a new standard for success for the team, while also strung together a seven-game win streak and had the Skyline Conference Rookie of the Year, while three players earned Skyline First Team honors another pair earned second team citations, and the Gators produced the team's first NSCAA All-East Third Team performer.  In just two seasons, he already boasts a career record of 26-10-3, posting a .705 win percentage with the Gators. Gamarra is very knowledgeable about the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) as he spent five seasons as an assistant men's soccer coach at his alma mater, Carthage College. Gamarra initially attended the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and was part of the program's first NCAA Division II Tournament appearance in 2006. He added two game-winning goals as a member of the 2007 team that capped the season with an 11-7-1 record and a quarterfinalist showing in the league tournament. He transferred to Carthage in fall 2008 and played for two years before graduating in 2010 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He later earned a master's degree in education from Carthage in 2013.  Andrew Gamarra Head Women's Soccer Coach Andrew Gamarra joins the North Central women's soccer coaching staff in 2016 as the Cardinals head coach.  Previously, Andrew was the head women's coach at the Sage Colleges in Albany, New York.   In his two years as head coach, Gamarra has helped the women's soccer program achieve new levels of success. In his first season, he led the team to a record of 12-6-2, while the squad earned post-season play in both the Skyline Conference Tournament and the ECAC Division III Metro Tournament. By season's end, Gamarra had earned Skyline Conference Coach of the Year honors after leading the team to the semifinals of both the Skyline and ECAC tournament. Most recently, Sage's women's soccer team finished the 2015 campaign with a share of the program's first Skyline Conference regular-season championship after an 8-1 record. Sage fell in the Skyline Conference semifinals in penalty kicks and capped the record-setting season with a 14-4-1 mark. The 14 wins is a new standard for success for the team, while also strung together a seven-game win streak and had the Skyline Conference Rookie of the Year, while three players earned Skyline First Team honors another pair earned second team citations, and the Gators produced the team's first NSCAA All-East Third Team performer.  In just two seasons, he already boasts a career record of 26-10-3, posting a .705 win percentage with the Gators. Gamarra is very knowledgeable about the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) as he spent five seasons as an assistant men's soccer coach at his alma mater, Carthage College. Gamarra initially attended the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and was part of the program's first NCAA Division II Tournament appearance in 2006. He added two game-winning goals as a member of the 2007 team that capped the season with an 11-7-1 record and a quarterfinalist showing in the league tournament. He transferred to Carthage in fall 2008 and played for two years before graduating in 2010 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He later earned a master's degree in education from Carthage in 2013.

The Mount Mary University Athletic Department hired John Baillie as head soccer coach in February of 2018. I'm passionate about soccer, but I'm even more passionate about helping students grow and develop into confident, disciplined, successful adults in all aspects of their lives: as soccer players, students, and individuals, said the new Mount Mary Head Soccer Coach John Baillie. I encourage my teams to be accountable to one another and to commit to one another in pursuit of a shared goal. Mount Mary's mission of development of the whole person and core values of competence, community, commitment, and compassion align perfectly with my coaching philosophy. Coach Baillie has spent the last year coaching at the Waunakee Soccer Club. Prior to that, coach Baillie worked as the assistant varsity and goalkeeper coach for Madison East High School from 2013-16. No stranger to the NCAA ranks, coach Baillie worked numerous roles at Knox College in Galesburg, Ill. Among the many coaching titles at Knox, John Baillie served as the assistant womens soccer coach for four seasons. At Knox, Coach Baillie ran goalkeeper practice for the womens team for all four years while working as the programs assistant coach. The young coach also worked with the mens soccer program for two seasons at Knox, the head tennis coach for four seasons and mens assistant basketball coach for two seasons. John's [Baillie] experience coaching and recruiting at an NCAA Division III private institution definitely played an important role in the committee's recommendation, offered Mount Mary Director of Athletics Marc Heidorf. Additionally throughout the interview process it was apparent he had done his homework and knew about Mount Mary and the soccer student-athletes.

Chris Allen, who served as a volunteer assistant with the Billikens in 2016, is in his first season as a full-time assistant coach.   I am thrilled to have Chris join our staff as a full-time assistant coach, head coach Katie Shields said. Weve already had the privilege of working with him for a year, so we know his exceptional qualities on and off the field. His positivity and passion for Saint Louis University, our program and our student-athletes made him the obvious choice for this position.   Since his arrival at SLU, Chris has been relentless in finding ways to improve and grow every facet of our program, Shields said. I look forward to having him on board full time as we continue to educate our student-athletes, compete for and win championships on the field, and grow our presence in the community.   I feel incredibly blessed and am so grateful to be given this opportunity, Allen said. After spending last year as a volunteer assistant, I have grown to appreciate just how special SLU and the Billiken women's soccer program are. To be able to join the Billiken family in a full-time capacity is a dream come true.   Prior to his one-year stint as a SLU volunteer assistant, Allen spent nine seasons as girls soccer head coach at Webster Groves High School.   Allen transformed Webster Groves into a perennial power in Missouri. During his tenure, the Statesmen achieved a No. 4 national ranking and finished third in the Class 3 state tournament in 2015; enjoyed six 20-win seasons; won numerous conference and tournament titles; and produced more than 30 players who went on to compete at the collegiate level. Allen tallied a 164-71-5 record at the helm.   Allen was tabbed Missouri Class 3 Regional Coach of the Year the past two seasons and was selected to coach in the 2015 Missouri Athletic Club High School Soccer All-Star Game. He garnered five conference Coach of the Year awards.   Allen spent two seasons as boys head coach at Gonzaga Prep and one season as girls head coach at Mead High School, both located in Spokane, Washington. He served as an assistant coach of boys teams at Webster Groves (six seasons), Rockwood Summit (two seasons) and Gonzaga Prep (two seasons). Allen was a girls assistant coach at Webster Groves (one season) and Gonzaga Prep (two seasons).   Also the technical director of Four Rivers Futbol Club in Union, Missouri, Allen was a three-year starter at Kirkwood High School before playing one season at Calvin College, where he earned second-team All-Conference plaudits. He transferred to Truman State and graduated with a bachelors degree in exercise science/sports management in 2002.

Jason Murphy begins his eighth season as the UW-La Crosse head soccer coach in 2021.  The third head coach in school history, Murphy is 81-32-16 (.690) overall and 30-7-6 (.767) in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play in his first six seasons.  He guided the Eagles to back-to-back (2017, 2018) trips to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Tournament and three national appearances in the last six years.  The 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 public health threat. UWL advanced to the national quarterfinals in 2017 and third round in 2018.  UWL finished 12-7-3 overall and 4-2-1 in the WIAC in 2019, advancing to the conference tournament championship game for the fourth straight year. The Eagles finished 18-3-3 in 2018, recording the second most wins in single-season school history while winning a school record 14 straight games. UWL finished 20-2-3 overall in 2017, setting a school record for victories.  UWL won the 2018 WIAC regular-season title with a 6-0-1 record.  The Eagles also captured the conference tournament title with a 3-1 victory over UW-Eau Claire, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championships.  Action Shot Murphy has led UWL to three NCAA III appearances. UWL earned its third regular-season conference title in school history in 2017 with a 7-0 league mark, finishing undefeated in WIAC play for the first time in school history.  The Eagles earned an automatic bid to the 2017 NCAA III Championships after winning the WIAC Championship with a 4-3 shootout victory over UW-Whitewater.  Along with the school records for wins (20) and shutouts (14) in 2017, UWL set single-season school records for goals (65), assists (63), points (193) and shots (506). UWL earned the WIAC Coaching Staff of the Year Award in 2017 and 2018.  The Eagles were also selected the 2017 United Soccer Coaches North Region Staff of the Year. UWL set a then school record for single-season wins in 2016, finishing 14-5 overall. The Eagles finished second in the WIAC in 2016 with a 5-2 mark, advancing to the WIAC Championship game for third time in school history and first since 1999.   Murphy led UWL to its first appearance in school history in the NCAA Division III Championship in 2015 as the Eagles finished 12-7-2 overall. UWL claimed a share of the WIAC regular season title with a 5-1-1 league record.  The conference title was the second in school history (1996).  For his efforts, Murphy was named the 2015 WIAC Coach of the Year. The Eagles won a then school record eight consecutive matches in 2015 and advanced to the WIAC Championship Semifinals. Thirty-three All-WIAC honors have been earned in Murphy's six seasons at UWL.  Five student-athletes were named to the 2019 all-conference team, including Kaitlyn Villars, Katie Feller, Sophie Amundson, Quinn Shannon and Sydney Halstead.  Feller was voted the 2019 WIAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year while Halstead was named the WIAC Newcomer of the Year.  Seven players were named to the All-WIAC Team in 2017 and 2018.  The Eagles' Lily Brock, Megan Carroll, Cassie Handrick, Margaret Harings, Delaney Harnell, Maya Schmitt and Villars all earned the honor in 2018.  Brock, Carroll, Alex Cording, Maddie Granos, Harings, Schmitt and Villars were named to the 2017 team.  It marked the first time in school history UWL had seven student-athletes named to the all-conference first team.   The Eagles have had at least four players named to the All-WIAC Team in each of Murphy's first six years.   Harings was selected the 2017 and 2018 WIAC Offensive Player of the Year while Schmitt was named the WIAC Defensive Player of the Year both seasons.  Harings became the first player in school history to be named the league's offensive player of the year while Schmitt was the third to be selected the WIAC Defensive Player of the Year.  Feller and Villars were named to the 2019 United Soccer Coaches All-North Region Second Team.  Harings (first team) and Schmitt (third team) were voted to the 2018 United Soccer Coaches All-America Team while Harings (first team) was selected to the 2018 D3soccer.com All-America Team.  She is the first player in school history to earn D3soccer.com All-America honors.  Harings, Schmitt, Carroll and Handrick were all voted to the 2018 United Soccer Coaches All-North Region First Team. In 2017, Harings (second team) and Carroll (third team) earned United Soccer Coaches All-America Team accolades while Harings (first team), Carroll (first team), Schmitt (first team) and Villars (second team) were voted to the United Soccer Coaches All-North Region Team.  Carroll, Granos, Harings, Haley Hartkemeyer, Natalie Herzog and Hayley Stephens, were named to the 2016 All-WIAC Team.  It marked the first time in school history UWL had six student-athletes named to the all-conference first team.  Carroll, Harings and Herzog were selected to the 2016 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) All-North Region Team for NCAA Division III with Carroll and Harings earning second team honors and Herzog third team recognition.  Kourtni Alcock was voted the 2015 WIAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year under Murphy.  Alcock and Harings were both named to the 2015 NSCAA All-North Region for NCAA Division III.  Alcock was voted to the first team while Harings earned third team recognition.  Carroll was named to the 2017 United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-America Second Team while being voted to the United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-North/Central Region First Team.  Stephens was named to the 2017 United Soccer Coaches Scholar All-North/Central Region Second Team. Murphy led the Eagles to an 5-8-5 overall and 3-2-3 WIAC record in 2014.  Kirsten Anderson, Nicole Blaser, Kelly Denk and Ashley Tracy were selected to the 2014 All-WIAC Team.  Denk was also named a co-recipient of the 2014 WIAC Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete Award.  Murphy came to UWL after serving as head women's soccer coach and director of athletics at Marian University (Wis.).  He completed his fourth season as the Sabres' head coach in 2013.  Marian (Wis.) compiled a 33-12-2 Northern Athletic Conference (NAC) record under Murphy, who was selected the league's coach of the year in 2011.   The team tied a single-season school record with 13 victories (13-7) in 2011, including 10-2 in conference play.  The Sabres advanced to the program's first conference championship game in 2011 as seven players earned All-NAC recognition.  Murphy currently serves on the NCAA Division III Women's Soccer National Committee and on the NCAA Regional Advisory Committee. Murphy has earned his National and Advanced National coaching licenses from the NSCAA as well as his NSCAA State and Regional Goalkeeper licenses. He earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from UW-Stevens Point in 2004 and master's degree in exercise and sport science: sport administration from UWL in 2007. Murphy resides in La Crosse with his wife, Cindy, and two sons.  

Emma Morris enters her fourth season as the head coach of the Bethany women's soccer team in Fall 2022. In 2019, the Vikings qualified for the UMAC Tournament quarter-finals for the first time since 2016 and two players received All-Conference honors. In 2020, two players were named All-Conference. In 2021 the Vikings earned their best record in program history with 13-6-1, came 3rd in the conference for only the 3rd time and went to the semi-finals of conference tournament for the first time since 2016.    Morris comes to Bethany from Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio, where she spent the past two seasons as an assistant coach where she helped the Student Princes to an overall record of 17-19-2. While at Heidelberg, she completed her Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA).    Morris has also coached at the high school and club levels while directing the local soccer club in Tiffin. She has a strong passion for the game emphasizing coaching, mentoring, recruiting, and academic success.   Originally from England, Emma began playing soccer at the age of four for her father. While playing there, she was scouted to play in the academy set up for Middlesbrough (formerly of the Premier League) and had trials for the youth national team.   Collegiately, Emma played soccer at both Ashford University and Viterbo University as a defender. In 16 games as a senior at Viterbo, Morris earned North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) scholar-athlete honors and scored her only collegiate goal from the PK spot against Martin Luther College. At Ashford, Morris was a starter for the 2015 NAIA Association of Independent Institutions (AII) conference championship winning team. She was also named a 2015 Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athlete. Morris has earned a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) "D" license in coaching as well as an "FA" Level 1 coaching certificate.   Emma is a native of Richmond, North Yorkshire, England. Follow Coach Morris on [twitter](https://twitter.com/ebmorris04) (@ebmorris04).

Coach Cheung comes to Joliet after serving two seasons as the Head Women's Soccer Coach at Kishwaukee College in Malta, IL where he recruited over 25 student-athletes to help turn around the program. In his first season, he coached freshman midfielder Darian Lucas, who was named to the NJCAA Region IV - DII All Region First Team. In his second season with the Kougars, he inherited six players from the previous season and quickly expanded the roster to 20 within just one season. For the first time in program history, his team has gone undefeated against all opponents without conceding a goal in the Arrowhead Conference, his goalkeeper Abigail Provo earned NJCAA DII National Goalkeeper of the Week honors (9/29/21). Coach Cheung has earned a number of soccer coaching credentials. He has his United States Soccer Federation D License, he received his United Soccer Coaches (USC) National Diploma in 2019, a USC Advanced National Diploma in 2021, USC Level 1 Futsal Diploma, USC Attacking & Defending Principles Diploma, USC 11v11 Formations & Systems of Play Diploma, Level 1 Goalkeeping Diploma. He has served on staff at the elite soccer camp at Texas A&M University. He is a member of the United Soccer Coaches and Asian/Pacific Islander Coaches Advocacy Group.