Women’s soccer head coach Tim Nowak leaving Eastern
Updated 01/22 at 6:15 p.m. CST
Eastern women’s soccer head coach Tim Nowak is leaving the program.
Nowak said in an official press release that he would no longer be a part of the program.
“I have very much enjoyed my time as the head coach at Eastern Illinois,” Nowak said in the release. “I want to thank the administration for the opportunity to be a part of this university and I also want to thank the team for all of their hard work and dedication to EIU women’s soccer. This was a difficult decision to make, but one I thought I could not pass up. I will be working with a good colleague of mine in one of the top women’s soccer conferences in the country.”
Nowak, who was the head coach for four seasons, led the Panthers to a runner-up finish in the OVC Tournament in 2005 after the Panthers had won four straight OVC Tournament titles and went to four straight NCAA Tournaments.
The Panthers made the OVC Tournament every season Nowak coached. The Panthers only made the semifinals of the league tourney in 2006 and 2007 and lost in the first round in 2008.
Eastern is the only OVC program that has qualified for the league tournament every year the event has been held.
Nowak was an assistant coach at Louisville from 2001-2004.
Nowak was as a goalkeeper at Western Illinois and graduated in 1997. He was a graduate coach in 1999.
Only three seniors graduated from this season’s team and 17 letter-winners are expected to return next season. This includes red-shirt freshman defender Sam Balek, who earned Second-Team All-OVC honors and was named to the All-Newcomer squad. Eastern junior midfielder Alexis Miller also returns. Miller earned 2007 OVC All-Tourney Honors. Eastern junior goalkeeper Jenny Williams is also set to return. Williams was named to the 2007 All-OVC Newcomer Team.
“Eastern Illinois appreciates the years of service Tim (Nowak) has given to the Panther women’s soccer program,” Eastern athletic director Barbara Burke said in a release. “We understand this is a good career opportunity and wish him the best of luck.”
Burke said a national search for Nowak’s replacement will begin immediately.
Staff report
