Head coach Luis Reis begins his 17th season with the Wheaton women’s soccer program in 2013, and he currently owns one of the best winning percentages among active NCAA Division III coaches in the country at .833 (303-51-24). Inducted into the New England Soccer Hall of Fame in 2008, Reis was honored as one of eight members of the 31st class.
Under Reis, the Lyons have qualified for 16 straight postseason appearances, including the program’s first NCAA Tournament Final Four in 2004. Wheaton also posted NCAA Tournament national quarterfinal finishes in 2002 and 2003 and 13 consecutive NCAA Tournament bids from 2000-12. The Lyons have finished the season ranked in the top-25 nationally for 14 years in a row and were twice ranked first (Oct. 19, 2004; Nov. 10, 2003) by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA).
Wheaton has won at least 20 games in eight of the last 14 seasons and reached the 16-win plateau 14 years in a row. From 1999-2009, the Lyons finished the regular season in first place in the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) – a span of 11 years – and have captured the tournament crown in seven of the past 13 seasons. They have reached the NEWMAC Tournament semifinal round 16 years in a row.
Wheaton owns the second-longest conference unbeaten streak in NCAA history (all divisions and genders), having reeled off 91 matches over eight years (October 17, 2000 – October 11, 2008) without a defeat. In 1997, the Lyons won the NEW 8 Tournament championship before the name change to the NEWMAC. Reis also helped Wheaton capture three straight regional championships from 2002-04 and an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament title in 1999.