Washington University will be losing a member of the family.
Wendy Dillinger, head coach of the women’s soccer team, has accepted a job at Iowa State University, the school announced today in Ames, Iowa. Her three assistants will also be leaving the team.
“It’s hard [to leave],” said her husband Chris Sellers, one of the assistants. “Wendy is an amazing person, amazing mom, amazing wife. Anything I can do to support her, that’s what I’m going to do. I embrace change, but [the move] is tempered by relationships here.”
The team was very surprised to hear this news. “When I visited as a sophomore, she said there was no place she’d rather be, that she loves the Div. III atmosphere and her family is here,” said junior defender Carly Anderson.
Dillinger first came to Washington University in 2002 and has turned the program into one of Wash. U.’s most successful teams. In her six seasons as a Bear, she compiled a career record of 85-25-8 and a .756 winning percentage. She also led the team to the conference title four times and was named coach of the year twice. Two players have been named All-American during her tenure, including 2006 national Player of the Year MeghanMarie Fowler-Finn.
Dillinger was unreachable for comment before the press deadline.
“She’s smart and knows soccer really well,” said junior goalkeeper Amanda Boe. “After watching a team she knows what we need to do to beat them.”
“She made it about us working together. We will miss her approach of how to win,” added sophomore midfielder Alyssa Chudnofsky.
Dillinger has thoroughly transformed the program during her tenure. Begun in 1989, the team, with only a .648 winning percentage, made only three postseason appearances prior to her arrival. She took them to the NCAA tournament four times, winning at least one game every time.
Her recruits have found success not only on the field, but also in the classroom. Many have received student-athlete accolades, including four that were named to Academic All-American Teams.
Not only has Dillinger proven to be a force on the field, but she has been a great mentor to her players. “Wendy and by extension Chris are like our parents away from home. They will do anything for us. We can call them at 3 a.m. and they won’t care,” said junior midfielder Caitlin Malone.
Dillinger and Sellers also feel just as close of a bond with the team. Sellers was clearly agonizing over the situation. “The girls at Wash. U. are amazing and there is nothing we want more for them than to have an amazing season, career and future,” said Sellers as he struggled to compose himself.
Though the team is positive that they will still find success in the future, they realize that many changes are about to take place. “Many of us chose to come here because of Wendy,” said Malone. “She put it in our minds that we could win a national title.”