Men's Soccer-The Future

[indyonion]

Although I know the reasons Coach Mrak was let go are private between the school and the coach, I would be interested to know what pieces of the soccer team's performance this year factored in to the decision.
As to the future: What will the AD be looking for in the next coach, i.e., previous DI experience? Club ball experience (with one of the major powerhouse club teams around the country)? Div II or III with experience that suggests it's time to move up?
Where does the AD envision the program going? Will the university continue to commit it's resources to upgrading facilities, giving scholarships to prime athletes, and putting focus on a program that has so much potential? Watching the program this year, especially the freshman/sophomores coming up, most of which played with mega clubs previously, I was encouraged where we seemed to be going. If we want to succeed, meaning if we want to continue to draw those high quality athletes, we need to offer not just a program, but a commitment to a successful one.

[ml]

There are four characteristics that I would like to see the new head coach bring to the men's soccer program.
1. Experience in a winning program
2. Experience at a private school
3. Ability to recruit the Midwest immediately
4. Head coaching experience

These would be on top of what we look for in any coach:
Knowledge of the game
An effective teacher
The ability to advocate for their program both on campus and off.

We have reached the point in the process where the finalists are visiting campus. The goal is to have a new coach named in the next few weeks.

Our goal for men's soccer is the same as that of all of our other teams, to win the conference championship. We have a full complement of scholarships. Our soccer facilities, like those for all of our programs, are acceptable, but need improvements.

In the sport of men's soccer, Horizon League competition is tougher than the Mid-Con, but this will give us the ability to recruit different student-athletes.