USF women's soccer founder leaving for Notre Dame

Fri., July 11, 2008

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – After nearly 20 years at the University of Saint Francis as a student-athlete and then a head coach, Ken Nuber got the one, the only job offer he couldn’t refuse.

Nuber has resigned as head women’s soccer coach for USF to join the Fighting Irish staff as an assistant women’s soccer coach.

"It really was the one position that for my career and my family, I couldn’t refuse, though it was difficult to leave having made so many friends and so many student-athletes play such a huge role in the success of a program we started from scratch," Nuber said. "As proud as I am of our success on the field, I’m proudest of what our team accomplished in the classroom and beyond."

"This is truly a bittersweet moment for USF Athletics," said Mark A. Pope, USF's Director of Athletics. "While we are thrilled for Ken and his new opportunity, we will be losing a valued member of the USF Coaching Staff.  We wish Ken all the best in his new position at Notre Dame."

"I’ve been working with (ND) head coach Randy Waldrum at the Notre Dame summer camp for a number of years, so we’ve got a good relationship and I’m looking forward to a tremendous opportunity to be a part of one of the top programs in the country."

In 13 seasons as the only head coach of the USF women’s soccer program, Nuber earned Mid-Central Conference Coach of the Year honors three times (1996, 1997, 2000) and Mid-West Region Coach of the Year twice (1997 and 2000). He also was a finalist twice for National NAIA Coach of the Year.

Nuber developed the program from scratch and after a 6-11 record in the first season of the program in 1995, the Lady Cougars produced 11 winning seasons in the next 12 winning MCC titles in 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001 and 2003. USF advanced to the NAIA Region VIII Final Four seven times and to the NAIA Regional Championship twice.

His teams only finished lower than third in the Mid-Central Conference once, in 2004, and USF produced double-figure win seasons in the last 12 seasons of the program. Last season (2007) he secured his 200th career victory, a total that includes five seasons as head coach of the USF men’s soccer program (1994-98).

The program also is a ten-time recipient of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's (NSCAA) Team Academic Award for having a team GPA of 3.0 or better for the academic calendar year.  In January 2008, The Lady Cougars earned a 3.61 GPA placing them 4th in the nation at all levels of play.

Coach Nuber holds a National Diploma and an Advanced National Diploma from the NSCAA and is the current president of the NAIA-NSCAA Women's Coaches Association. Nuber is a staff coach at the University of Notre Dame Soccer Camps and was an assistant coach for the Fort Wayne Fever W-League team in 2004, its inaugural season. Also active with Citadel FC in Fort Wayne, Nuber currently is head coach of the ’89 girls team in the club.

Nuber began his connection with the University of Saint Francis in 1989 as a member of the Men's Soccer program. By the time he finished his career, he ranked 2nd all-time in goals and points and is among the leaders in several other single-game and career records. In the spring of 2005, Nuber was inducted into the USF Athletics Hall of Fame.

Nuber also coached the USF softball program four years between 2000 and 2003 and is the school's all-time wins leader with a record of 75-74 (.503).

A graduate of Oak Hills High School in Cincinnati, Nuber earned his bachelor’s degree from University of Saint Francis in 1993. He and his wife, Gina, their daughter, Mya (3), and son, Jayden (2) reside in Fort Wayne.

Ken Nuber Coaching Records Held

• 170 Wins ranks 7th All-Time in NAIA Women's Soccer History
• 202 Wins combined Men and Women USF/SFC soccer
• 3rd All-Time in wins, Indiana Universities
  1. 210 Wins John Carter, DePauw University
  2. 185 Wins Randy Waldrum, University of Notre Dame
  3. 170 Wins Ken Nuber, USF
• 2nd Longest Active Coach of Indiana Universities
  1. 18 Seasons, John Carter, DePauw University
  2. 15 Seasons, Ken Nuber, USF

Nuber’s Coaching Record (women)

Nuber’s Coaching Record (Softball)

Nuber’s Coaching Record (Men's Soccer)