St. Louis, Mo. – Washington University in St. Louis Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and the John M. Schael Director of Athletics Anthony J. Azama has announced the return of Jim Conlon as the next head coach of the women's soccer program.
"Our goal remains the same, to recruit talented student-athletes who want to become (and graduate) Scholar-Champions," said Azama. "Jim's success speaks volumes but his energy and passion toward the development of young people has greater impact."
Conlon returns to the Danforth Campus after a one-year stint at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan, where he won a Division II National Championship with the Lakers in 2021, the seventh in program history.
"I would like to thank Keri Becker and Wendy Wilson for giving me the opportunity to lead the Grand Valley State Women's Soccer program. Their leadership and unconditional support are revealing of the value and support the women's soccer program receives," said Conlon. "Please allow me to express my gratitude to Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Dr. Anna Gonzalez, Anthony J. Azama and the entire search committee for presenting the opportunity to coach amazing scholar-champions again. WashU is a place my family and I called home for over a decade. The excitement is palpable for my family and I returning home. I am ecstatic to bring energy and passion back to The Francis Olympic Field."
In one season at GVSU, Conlon led the team to a 24-1-2 record and a 12-0-2 record in the GLIAC. Despite falling in the conference final, the Lakers rebounded to win six-straight NCAA Tournament games en route to the national title.
Conlon produced the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Year, Greta DeLoach, the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Year, Cecilia Steinwascher as well as seven all-conference selections and was named the GLIAC Coach of the Year honors.
Additionally, Steinwascher was named United Soccer Coaches Player of the Year while DeLoach and Abby Willerer earned United Soccer Coaches All-America honors under the guidance of Conlon.
Prior to his single season at GVSU, Conlon spent 13 seasons at the helm of the Bears' program, leading it to new heights culminating in the program's first-ever National Championship in 2016 with a 5-4 shootout victory over Messiah.
In his time at WashU, Conlon won nine UAA titles and the Bears earned a berth to the NCAA Tournament in 12 of his 13 seasons. The lone season without an appearance was the 2020 season when the tournament was canceled due to COVID-19. He is the winningest coach in WashU program history with a 208-37-19 record.
In addition to the 2016 National Championship, the Bears made it to the title game two other times since 2008 when Conlon took over – 2009 and 2015. WashU also reached the Final Four in 2018.
Conlon developed 13 student-athletes into All-Americans at WashU as well as seven Academic All-Americans. In 2014, Lillie Toaspern was named D3soccer.com Midfielder of the Year while Lizzy Crist was named 2015 and 2016 D3soccer.com National Goalkeeper of the Year. In 2017, Crist was also named NCAA Woman of the Year.
While at WashU, Conlon earned a number of coaching accolades, including the 2018 United Soccer Coaches National Staff of the Year and the 2016 D3soccer.com National Coach of the Year. Conlon and his staff also earned United Soccer Coaches Central Region Staff of the Year in 2013, 2016, 2018 and 2019 and UAA Coaching Staff of the Year in 2013, 2015 and 2018.
Conlon's will be starting back at WashU later this spring.
