Jeff Freeman

Assistant Coach

jfreemn@illinois.edu

Illinois

Division 1

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.

John Marovich

Head Coach

john.marovich@valpo.edu

Valparaiso

Division 1

John Marovich was named the third head coach in the history of the Valpo women's soccer program in January of 2008, following six seasons as an assistant and associate head coach on the bench. The 2014 Horizon League Coach of the Year and the 2022 Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the year, he enters his 16th season at the helm of Valpo in the fall of 2023.

Marovich enters the fall 2023 campaign with a record of 121-112-42 both overall as a collegiate head coach and at Valpo. He holds Valpo's all-time records for victories and winning percentage (.516).

Under Marovich's guidance, Valpo maintained its momentum from the fall 2021 campaign. The Beacons enjoyed their best season since joining the Valley, finishing with a MVC regular season championship with a 7-1-2 mark.

Along the way, the fall 2021 squad posted the second-longest unbeaten streak (8-0-1) and the third-longest winning streak (7-0-0) in program history. Nikki Coryell repeated as MVC Goalkeeper of the Year and was joined on the All-MVC First Team by Kelsie James, and the duo were joined by Kiley Dugan as United Soccer Coaches All-Region selections as well.

The spring 2021 season saw Marovich lead Valpo to a strong turnaround. Valpo posted a 5-4-5 overall record and was 3-2-3 in MVC regular season play, earning a third-place finish in the regular season standings - the program's best at that point since joining the Valley. Along the way, Marovich became the first coach in program history to reach the 100-win mark on the sidelines at Valpo, doing so with a March 9 win over Indiana State.

The Brown and Gold went on to advance to the MVC Tournament championship match for the first time in program history. Marovich coached the MVC's Goalkeeper of the Year in Coryell, as well as two additional First Team All-MVC honorees in Keegan Maris and Dugan - both of whom were United Soccer Coaches All-Region selections as well. Maris was also named a Third Team CoSIDA Academic All-American and a United Soccer Coaches Third Team Scholar All-American. Valpo finished the campaign with the fewest goals surrendered in a single season in program history (8) and a team GAA of 0.52, third-best in program history.

Marovich led the Brown and Gold as they transitioned into the MVC in 2017. Valpo posted a 9-10-0 overall record and a 3-4-0 record in MVC play while making the leap from the nation's 28th-ranked conference by RPI (Horizon League, 2016) to the nation's 12th-ranked conference (MVC, 2017). Led by the efforts of First Team All-MVC and Third Team All-Region honoree Cory Griffith, the 2017 side finished the season 57 spots higher in the RPI than the 2016 squad. Marovich also coached the program's fourth CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American all-time, as senior Grace Rogers earned the honor.

Marovich led Valpo to nine victories in 2016, as he surpassed former head coach Stephen Anthony for the program's all-time wins record. Marovich matched Anthony's mark of 78 wins with a victory over Morehead State on Sept. 18, and then two matches later, broke the record with a victory against Milwaukee Sept. 28. 

Marovich and Valpo won seven matches in 2015, including a 4-2-2 mark on their home pitch at Brown Field. Three players earned All-League accolades, while Rita Craven and April Cronin both repeated as NSCAA All-Region honorees. In addition, Craven and Jenny Fassbinder were both selected as CoSIDA First Team Academic All-Americans.

Marovich led Valpo in 2014 to the most successful season in program history. The team set new school records with 14 wins, a 12-match winning streak and an 18-match unbeaten streak, ending the season with a 14-2-4 record. Along the way, the side swept through Horizon League play with a perfect 8-0-0 record - only the third side in league history to go 8-0-0. Valpo won its first Horizon League regular season and tournament championships in 2014 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second time.

Individually under Marovich in 2014, numerous players earned accolades, highlighted by the selection of Craven as an NSCAA Third Team All-American - the first All-American in program history. Craven was also an NSCAA First Team Scholar All-American, the first in program history as well, and is the only player in Valpo women's soccer history to be named league Player of the Year. A quartet of players earned NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region honors, while Jenny Fassbinder was an NSCAA Third Team Scholar All-American.

Under Marovich, Valpo has cemented itself as a top-tier defensive side, as all five of the top defensive seasons in program history have come during his tenure. In 2013, Marovich's squad surrendered just 15 goals, while 2012 saw Valpo earn the first national statistical championship in program history en route to a 10-win campaign, as its team goals against average of 0.51 paced the nation. Valpo also ranked among the top-ten squads in the nation in both shutout percentage and save percentage.

Marovich guided the Brown and Gold to the Horizon League Tournament championship match in 2009 as Valpo finished the year 11-9-1 overall while placing third during the regular season, its highest finish to that point in the Horizon League since joining the conference prior to the 2007 season. The 11 wins were third most in school history. Valpo matched its third place finish again under his guidance in 2011.

In 2008, his first season at the helm of the Brown and Gold, Marovichs squad finished 10-6-3 overall while setting a new school record with 10 shutouts on the season. His team also set a then-school record for lowest goals against average in a season, 0.71, and posted a 7-2-1 record at home.

During his time as head coach at Valpo, Marovich has had 16 players earn First Team All-Conference honors, while 17 others have been Second Team All-League picks. Marovich also has had 21 All-Newcomer Team/All-Freshman Team selections under his guidance.

His teams also have had success in the classroom, as 22 student-athletes have been voted to conference All-Academic/Scholar-Athlete Teams. In addition, he has coached four CoSIDA First Team Academic All-Americans (Jackie Kondratko - 2009; Rita Craven and Jenny Fassbinder - 2015; Grace Rogers - 2017), while a total of 10 players have earned Academic All-District V accolades, including nine First Team selections. Kondratko was also named the Horizon Leagues Cecil N. Coleman Award winner in 2010, an honor given to the leagues overall top male and female senior student-athlete across all sports.

Marovich joined the Valparaiso University coaching staff as an assistant coach prior to the 2002 season. After serving in this role for Valpo for his first three years with the program, he was promoted to associate head coach, where he assumed a full-time role prior to the 2005 season.

In 2007, Marovich was an assistant on the Valpo coaching staff as Valpo moved into the Horizon League. During the first season in the new conference, he helped Valpo post a 10-9-0 record, finishing fifth in the highly competitive league. The Brown and Gold also had three student-athletes earn All-Horizon League honors, with two Second Team picks and an All-Newcomer Team selection.

Marovich also was instrumental in Valpo's success in both 2005 and 2006. The Brown and Gold won both the Mid-Continent Conference regular season and tournament titles in 2005, setting a new school record for victories with 12, as well as posting the best winning percentage at the time in the programs history. Valpo earned its first berth ever to the NCAA Womens Soccer Championship, traveling to Notre Dame, a team Marovich spent time assisting prior to arriving at Valpo.

The next season, 2006, Marovich was a part of the program's first outright regular season Mid-Continent Conference title in school history, as Valpo again won 12 matches, while also setting a new mark for winning percentage in a season at .711.

In his first five seasons on the bench for the Brown and Gold, Valpo earned four Mid-Continent Conference Tournament berths, advancing to the title match in 2004 in addition to winning the championship in 2005.

Marovich arrived at Valpo after spending the 2001 season as a womens volunteer assistant coach at the University of Notre Dame, helping lead the Fighting Irish to the Big East regular season and tournament championships. During Marovichs stay, Notre Dame also advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Before moving to the collegiate field, Marovich was the head girls coach at Andrean High School, where he led the 59ers to the state title match in 1999. In his seven seasons at Andrean, he won two conference titles and three sectional championships, as well as a regional and semi-state title. Marovich was named the National Soccer Coaches Association of Americas Indiana private/parochial school state Coach of the Year in 1999.

Marovich has earned his United States Soccer Federation A License. He played collegiate soccer at Purdue-Calumet, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in construction technology in 1994. He also serves as an Olympic Development Program age group head coach in the state of Indiana and is also a staff coach for Region II.

John and his wife, Susan, have been married since 1995 and have two children, Mackenzie, born in 1999, and Kacey, born in 2003.

Kevin Boyd

Head Coach

boydk@uwm.edu

Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Division 1

Head Coach University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

2023 Horizon League Champions, Horizon League Tournament Champions

2022 Horizon League Champions, Horizon League Tournament Champions

2020-2021 Associate Head Coach Washington State University

2017-2020 Director of Coaching (Girls) for Legends Soccer Club in Southern California (US DA Club at time)

2017-2016 Head Coach Arizona State University

1997-2016 Head Coach CAL-Berkeley

Dirk Bennett

Head Coach

debennett@eiu.edu

Eastern Illinois

Division 1

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

Travis Sobers

Head Coach

travis.sobers@wright.edu

Wright State

Division 1

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.

Joe Sagar

Head Coach

joe.g.sagar@lawrence.edu

Lawrence

Division 3

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.

Jaime Acuna

Assistant Coach

jacuna11@yahoo.com

Occidental

Division 3

Acuna started working with both the men and women goalkeepers at Occidental College in 2006. He is now entering his 19th season at Oxy, working both with goalkeepers and field players on the women's side. Acuna has trained and helped Oxy's Robin Fieldman earn SCIAC Goalkeeper of the Year honors in 2011, and Sydney Tomlinson earn United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-American in 2018.

Cesar Gomez

Assistant Coach

cesar.gomez@elmhurst.edu

Elmhurst

Division 3

Head coach in West Chicago HS since 2007.

Assist Coach at Wheaton  College 2003-2023.

Assistant Coach at Elmhurst University currently

Eddie Garza

Head Coach

eduardo.garza@cuchicago.edu

Concordia (IL)

Division 3

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.

Emma Woodley

Head Coach

eblundeen@northpark.edu

North Park (IL)

Division 3

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

Volunteer Assistant Coach

eric.natwick4@gmail.com

Wisconsin-Parkside

Division 2

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).

Annie Gerdes

Head Coach

agerdes@knox.edu

Knox

Division 3

Annie Gerdes returned to Knox in the summer of 2023 to lead the Prairie Fire women's soccer program. She previously served as an assistant coach in the program from 2019-2022.

Gerdes joined the women's soccer staff in the summer of 2019 after her career as a goalkeeper for the Prairie Fire. Gerdes played on the '16, '17, and '18 MWC championship teams and assisted in leading the 2019 and 2021 teams to MWC Titles. 

In her time as an assistant coach, Gerdes helped coach the women's soccer team to their fourth and fifth straight Midwest Conference Regular Season Championships. She also coached goalkeepers for the men's team.

Gerdes was a member of the 2016 women's soccer team that was inducted into the Knox-Lombard Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022. That team kicked off a run of five dominant years by the program.

In 2022, Gerdes served as a Youth Camp Coach for the Chicago Red Stars and a Youth Head Coach for the Galaxy Soccer Club in Naperville.

During COVID, Gerdes stepped up as the Men's Goalkeeper Coach and was promoted officially by Coach O'Connor in May of 2020. Gerdes was also named Associate Sports Information Director in October 2020 after a year as the Assistant Sports Information Director. 

Gerdes was a three-year Prairie Fire athlete. She was a member of the 3-time MWC Championship team and made two appearances in the NCAA Championship tournament.

Olivia Killian

okillian15@gmail.com

Ripon

Division 3

My name is Olivia Killian and I am a Graduate Assistant at Ripon College in Ripon, Wisconsin.

I completed 5 seasons with the Ripon Womens Soccer team and 2 as team captain. I graduated with a physical education major, however, because of my love of the game and the Ripon soccer program decided to pursue coaching and learn from Coach Dimos.

Ian Doherty

Head Coach

idoherty@millikin.edu

Millikin

Division 3

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)

Nathan Phillips

Assistant Coach, Recruiting Coordinator

njphillips@millikin.edu

Millikin

Division 3

Nathan Phillips joined the Millikin staff in July 2022 as an assistant womens soccer coach.
 
Prior to coming to Millikin, Phillips spent three years as an assistant coach at Southwest Minnesota State University. Phillips was also on the staff at Millsaps College as an assistant and interim head coach.
 
He holds a United Soccer Coaches National Diploma, United Soccer Coaches Advanced National Diploma, United Soccer Coaches Goalkeeping Level 1&2 Diplomas and is CSCS Certified.
 
Phillips graduated from the University of Mary in 2019 and earned a masters degree in Physical Education from Southwest Minnesota State.

Bob Rickards

Head Coach

bob.rickards@snc.edu

St. Norbert

Division 3

Bob Rickards is in his third season coaching St. Norbert College women's soccer in the fall of 2022. (28-30-2, .483)

The Green Knights finished 9-12 in 2022 and qualified for their second Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Tournament.

Rickards completed a stellar career coaching both the girls' and boys' soccer teams at Notre Dame Academy in Green Bay, Wis., in the spring of 2019. Rickards led the Notre Dame girls to a WIAA Division 3 state championship in 2018 and the boys to a pair of WIAA Division 2 state titles in 2007 and 2008. The Tritons also finished as the Division 3 boys' state runner-up in 2013 and the Division 3 girls' state runner-up in 2011 and 2015.

Rickards has compiled a 245-89-38 record with the girls and a 225-106-42 mark with the boys at Notre Dame. The totals include six girls' conference championships and three boys' conference titles. He has been named conference coach of the year a total of six times (five girls, one boy) and was named Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association Division 3 Girls Coach of the Year in 2015 and 2018.

Roshane Ellison

Head Coach

relliso1@iit.edu

Illinois Tech

NAIA

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.

Paul Burns

Head Coach

pburns@parisjc.edu

Paris JC

Junior College

Paul Burns comes to PJC as Head Women's Soccer Coach after spending eight seasons as the Associate Head Coach for Texas A&M University-Commerce, bringing with him over 20 years of coaching and teaching experience. He made an immediate impact at PJC this past season taking them to a winning in season record and steering the Dragons to their first trip post season conference tournament.

During his tenure at Commerce, the Lions qualified four times for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament during Burns' eight years, including two times making the round of 16. Four players were named All-American, including Vicky Back, who was the first A&M-Commerce player in history to be named a First Team All-American.

During the 2016 season, the Lions went 15-6-1 and won the regular season Lone Star Conference (LSC) Championship. They qualified for the NCAA Division II Tournament and advanced into the Sweet 16. Savannah Grasser and Vicky Back were named All-Americans, with Back named to three different First Team All-America lists. In addition, Back was named LSC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year and Grasser was named Forward of the Year. Back and Grasser were named Scholar All-Americans as well.

In 2015 the team finished the year 13-6-2 and was the LSC postseason Tournament Champions, with Grasser and Back again named All-Americans. During the 2014 season, the team finished 16-5-1 and won the regular season and postseason championships and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Grasser was named LSC Player of the Year.

Burns spent the previous 17 seasons as the head coach at Austin College in Sherman, building the Kangaroo program from scratch. He compiled a 176-117-26 (.592) record while leading Austin College to three NCAA tournament berths, the 2000 American Southwest Conference championship and four-straight east division titles.

During his time in Sherman, Burns' players accounted for over 100 All-Conference and Academic All-Conference honors. He helped guide the 'Roos to 14-straight winning seasons as well as success in the classroom as his teams consistently boasted a 3.0 GPA or higher.

Prior to starting the program at Austin College, Burns spent one season at Stephen's College in Columbia, Missouri, where he also started the Stars' soccer program. He holds his "A" License from the United States Soccer Federation as well as his Premier License from the National Soccer Coaches of America.

Paul Sikinger

Assistant Coach

paul.sikinger@marquette.edu

Marquette

Division 1

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.

Rachel Pitman

Associate Head Coach

rpitman@depaul.edu

DePaul

Division 1

Rachel Pitman enters her third year as the assistant coach with the Blue Demons women's soccer program
The former All-BIG EAST and All-Northeast Region defender returned to Lincoln Park in August 2018 to coach her alma mater. 

Pitman began her stellar Wish Field playing career in 2011, coming to Chicago from England. She helped lead DePaul to consecutive NCAA tournament appearances in 2013 and 2014.

In 2014, Pitman & Co. set a program record going 16-1-4, and the team's 20-match unbeaten streak was the longest in the nation along with UCLA.

That season, head coach Erin Chastain's team won both the BIG EAST regular-season and tournament titles.

Pitman was selected to the All-BIG EAST First Team as a senior and was NSCAA All-Northeast Region Second Team. She was also named to the Capital One Academic All-America First Team and was a four-time BIG EAST All-Academic Team selection.

Competing on England's U-17 and U-23 national teams, Pitman scored five goals and helped lead the English to the U-17 World Cup Semifinals. She has also played with England's U-15 and U-17 teams.

The talented and scrappy Blue Demon has played professionally for three years (2015-18) with the Sunderland Ladies AFC club in Sunderland, England, and made four appearances in the Champions League.

Pitman is a UEFA B qualified soccer coach.

Elizabeth Stone

Assistant Coach

stoneliza@grinnell.edu

Grinnell

Division 3

Second season as the Assistant Women's Soccer Coach and Goalkeeping Coach at Grinnell College. Played at Drake University as a goalkeeper from 2018-2021.


Grinnell College Women's Soccer - Midwest Conference:


Back-to-back Midwest Conference Tournament Appearances '22 & '23

NCAA Tournament Birth in 2022

Undefeated Conference Champions 2022

Undefeated Regular Season Conference Title 2022

Nick Rizzo

Head Coach

nrizzo@monmouthcollege.edu

Saint Mary's (MN)

Division 3

Here at Saint Mary's, we are looking to grow and build upon each year. We are a team that is very determined to improve and excel in both the classroom and on the soccer field. Last season, we had a team GPA of 3.65, and we are looking to continue that positive trend. 

As a coach, my philosophy is centered on the concept of developing the whole student-athlete. This involves establishing a competitive culture within the team, holding the team members accountable each day, and building an environment that is centered on trust in one another. By helping the student-athletes to grow in their competitive drive, hold themselves and others accountable, and build an environment based on trust for one another, they will create a team environment that will grow and endure, which will help them be successful, not only as a student athlete and teammate, but also in their personal and professional lives after college. 

I regularly attend showcases, games, and ID Camps around the country.  I would love the opportunity to come see anyone who is looking to play at the next level! Please contact me at either nrizzo@smumn.edu or 630-890-4484, so that I can come to see you play. Good luck in the next season!

Shaun Soderling

coachsoderling@ku.edu

Brescia

Division 1

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.