Blue Knight Women’s Soccer Coach Resigns
After decade at Urbana, Wendling named coach at NCAA D-I Canisius
URBANA, Ohio (February 18, 2008) – Urbana University Director of Athletics Doug Young today announced the resignation of head women’s soccer coach Jim Wendling. Wendling has accepted the position as head women’s soccer coach at Canisius College, a private NCAA Division I university in Buffalo, N.Y.

“We want to thank Jim for his hard work and dedication to Urbana University over the last 10 years,” said Young. “He built the Blue Knight men’s and women’s soccer programs from scratch and turned both into formidable squads. We can’t thank Jim enough for his commitment to the University and the hundreds of student-athletes he impacted along the way. We wish him the best of luck at Canisius.” 

“I am very excited to be given this opportunity at the NCAA D-I level, taking over the women’s soccer program at Canisius College,” said Wendling. “It is one of the top academic colleges in the Midwest and I look forward to working with the women's soccer program, which has the potential to become a great soccer team.”

Wendling, a native of Dayton, Ohio, coached both the men’s and women’s soccer teams at Urbana for nine seasons, before stepping down as men’s coach in 2007 to focus on the women’s team and to also serve as director of soccer operations.

This past season (2007) Wendling led the Urbana women’s soccer team to a school-record 14 wins and a berth to the American Mideast Conference playoffs for the first time since 2001. The 14 wins were first in Region IX for regular season victories and the Blue Knights’ eight shutouts tied a school record. Five of his players were named all-conference, two were named NAIA scholar athletes and one earned all-Region IX and all-American accolades.

 “I will really miss the girls on the soccer team. They are such a wonderful group of young ladies. They work hard in the classroom and on the soccer field,” said Wendling. “They have a great passion for the game of soccer and know how to have fun. The next coach has a great group in which to build a stronger team.”

When he arrived on campus in 1998 Wendling set out to start the first women’s soccer program in the University’s history and bring back men’s soccer, which had not been played at Urbana since the 1970s. Both teams started varsity competition in 1999 and, after a few rocky years, Wendling established two competitive programs as the Blue Knight women’s soccer team enjoyed five winning seasons of its last seven and the men’s team had winning campaigns in five of its last six seasons.

Wendling has amassed 148 wins at Urbana (men’s record: 68-79-6, women’s record: 80-83-8) and owns 163 career wins (was 15-3 in one season as head coach of the Wittenberg women’s soccer team in 1995). During Wendling’s 10-year tenure the Blue Knight soccer programs have produced 35 NAIA Scholar Athletes, 32 NAIA Academic all-Ohio players, 32 AMC all-Academic players, two all-Americans, 12 NAIA all-Region players, 63 AMC all-conference performers and nine American Mideast Conference Players of the Week.  

“It has been a great privilege to work for Urbana University these past 10 years,” said Wendling. “I will miss all the staff on campus as they are a great group of people. I believe the athletic staff and coaches are just fantastic group of coaches. Urbana University is a great small college with a wonderful academic atmosphere that really focuses on the student's academic success.”

Under the tutelage of Wendling, the Urbana University women's soccer team was awarded the NCSAA Team Academic Award for five consecutive years (2002-2006). In those five years the entire Blue Knight women’s soccer program maintained a 3.0 or higher team GPA. In 2003 Urbana University was one of only 48 soccer teams in the nation (Div I, II III & NAIA) with both the men's and women's soccer team earning a GPA above a 3.0.

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