Arrives in Harrisonburg from Bluffton University

HARRISONBURG, Va. --- Eastern Mennonite University has announced the hiring of Sue Kolb as its new women's soccer coach. She has been the assistant women's coach at Bluffton University the past two seasons, with this being her first collegiate head coaching position.

When Kolb takes over her duties at EMU on March 15, she will become the program's fourth head coach as it heads into its 13th year of existence. She replaces Jason Good, who stepped down following the 2010 campaign to focus on writing his doctoral dissertation.

Athletic Director Dave King said he is confident Kolb will continue the upward movement of the program.

"I am very excited about having Sue join our staff and lead the women's soccer program," he said. "Being chosen from a strong pool of applicants says a lot about what we anticipate she will bring to the program. Her experience at Bluffton has prepared her well for continuing the movement of the women's soccer program into the upper third of the ODAC."

With Bluffton's design of having the same head coach for both the men's and women's programs, Kolb got more experience than normal for an assistant. Although this is the first head coaching job for Kolb at the college level, she has led a girls club team from Findlay, Oh., and coached at Meyersdale (Pa.) High School.

EMU's women finished 7-9-2 with a young team last fall, making the ODAC Tournament. They also closed the regular season by going 6-2-1 over their final nine games. Kolb said the talented young core was something that drew her to the program.

"I am proud and excited to be leading this Lady Royals squad," she said. "They are talented, motivated and determined to take this team to the next level."

Kolb coached against the Lady Royals last fall when the two teams met at the Menno Soccer Classic in Lansdale, Pa., and she said her exposure to the team then should help with the transition.

"Having coached against EMU, I am familiar with the fast-paced style of play we are used to playing," she said. "I will use both my coaching and past playing experience to develop these players, and I feel confident we will continue this fast-paced style in reaching our goals for next season."

Kolb was a four-year letter winner and all-conference player at D-II Davis and Elkins College in Elkins, WV, and has also been a guest player with the Charlotte Eagles semi-professional international travel team. She has a bachelor's in elementary education with a master's from Bluffton in instructional leadership.

King said there were a number of reasons that Kolb was the right fit for the program.

"While short on head coaching experience, Sue brings a level of energy, understanding and relationship building that will help her build a strong team chemistry," said King. "Her connections in Pennsylvania, Ohio and North Carolina will be assets in the recruiting efforts. Having worked at Bluffton University, she understands recruiting and coaching at a Division III Christian institution and is committed to the mission and vision of EMU."

Kolb hopes to not just put quality teams on the field at Eastern Mennonite, but also impact the lives of her athletes through their sport.

"Although my players will know me as a coach who sets high expectations, pushes them out of their comfort zone, and challenges them every day both on and off the field, at the end of the day I hope that I make such an impact on them that their lives and futures are better because they came to EMU and played soccer," said Kolb. "I have a favorite quote from John Wooden that emulates how I try to live my life and I hope that my players will agree to live their lives around it as well: 'If I were to be convicted for being a Christian, I hope they would have enough evidence to sentence me for life.'"

This release is courtesy of the Eastern Mennonite University sports information department.