MACOMB, Ill. - Following five successful seasons at Hastings College, 11-year coaching veteran Ted Flogaites (pronounced Flow-guy-tes) takes over at Western Illinois as head coach of the women's soccer program. University Assistant Vice President/Athletics Director Dr. Tim Van Alstine made the announcement on Tuesday (July 17).

Flogaites takes over as the Leathernecks' fifth head coach in program history. He brings to Western a career record of 123-85-13 in 11 years as a head coach, including a five-year mark of 76-22-9 (.752 winning percentage) with the Broncos. Over the past seven years - coaching at three institutions - Flogaites has turned in consecutive winning seasons, accumulating a 105-30-12 record.

He led Hastings to the 2010 NAIA national championship game, qualified for three national tournaments (2008, 2010, 2011), was nationally-ranked the past two seasons, and set a program record winning 19 games last season (20-game unbeaten streak snapped in Round of 16 at NAIA nationals).

Under his tutelage, HC recorded 52 shutouts during his five seasons and has remained undefeated at home since October 2007. In fact, the team was 26-0-1 in regular season and tournament Great Plains Athletic Conference play spanning the past two seasons as Flogaites and the Broncos won four titles (two regular season GPAC titles/two GPAC Tournament titles). The reigning two-time GPAC 'Coach of the Year', Flogaites was the NSCAA/Mondo and Brine NAIA 'National Coach of the Year' in 2010.

Two years ago the Broncos finished ranked 24th nationally and ended the 2011 season as the No. 9 team in NAIA.

­

"It is with a great sense of pride that I have agreed to become the head women's soccer coach at Western Illinois University. I have spent more than a decade coaching at the collegiate level and this position is the culmination of dreams realized, countless hours of work, but above all an undying love for the sport. The ability to coach student-athletes has transformed and enriched my life," said Flogaites. "I am genuinely sad to leave our team and players at Hastings College who have played such a big part in my life over the past six years, but I feel that the program is healthy, and above all the players are quality human beings whom I care a great deal about and that will not change. Leaving is always difficult but joining the Leatherneck Athletic Department is a phenomenal opportunity for me, and I will do whatever it takes to build the program into playing attractive futbol, achieving and surpassing high standards in the classroom, and competing first for Summit League championships with our sights set down the line on qualification for the NCAA College Cup... The players are the lifeblood of the program and I am looking forward to getting to know them, building real relationships based upon respect and honesty. "

He inherits a Leatherneck team that started off last year 6-2 before slipping to a 7-12 overall record (1-8 in the Summit League). Western had finished among the top half in the Summit League six of the previous seven years, including an undefeated regular season championship in 2007 and three appearances in the tournament championship game.

"We are very excited to have Ted lead our women's soccer program. A proven winner, a 'player's coach' who has the passion for the game, a hard-working recruiter who's players have enjoyed success in the classroom, on the pitch and in their daily lives - Ted has all the makings to be a great coach at Western," said Van Alstine. "We had an excellent pool of candidates, but Ted's personality and philosophy were the best fit for Western, with our administration, staff, and, most importantly, our student-athletes. The women's soccer program has a strong tradition - only 15 years of history - but the program is top-tier in the Summit League. We feel Ted can help to lead our squad to continue that success and make the Leathernecks a regional and national player in women's soccer."

Flogaites led the College of the Southwest to a 17-3 record in 2006 as head coach, winning the Red River Athletic Conference regular season title and advancing to the NAIA nationals. He received conference and regional 'Coach of the Year' accolades from the RRAC and NSCAA/adidas, respectively. For three years he coached at Lambuth University, appearing in the conference tournament each season and setting a program record for wins in 2005 (12).

During his two-year tenure at New Jersey City University, he produced more wins than the previous five years combined.

Since January 2007 he also served as head coach/instructor of coaching education for the Nebraska Olympic Development Program. For two years during that time he also worked on the coaching staff for the Region II ODP. He holds USSF National 'A' License, National Goalkeeping License, and National Youth License. Flogaites also earned the National Youth License, National Goalkeeping Diploma and Advanced National Goalkeeping Diploma from the NSCAA.

He began his collegiate playing career at Adelphi University before finishing at UC Santa Barbara where he earned his bachelor's degree in philosophy in May 1999. He earned his master's degree in health science from New Jersey City in May 2002 and is currently finishing his doctoral degree requirements in sports management from the Unites States Sports Academy.

"I want to thank Dr. (Tim) Van Alstine and Sean McDonough for the chance to bring a dream to reality.  I wish to send a special nod to our current men's coach Dr. Eric Johnson, whose enthusiasm regarding Western excited me and I am looking forward to learning from him things that can help transform the women's soccer program into one that contends for titles annually.  I am respectful and appreciative of the opportunity I have been granted and I will put everything I have into the program," said Flogaites.

2011    Head Coach - Hastings College:  19-3-1

2010    Head Coach - Hastings College:  17-5-3

2009    Head Coach - Hastings College:  13-4-3

2008    Head Coach - Hastings College:  14-6-1

2007    Head Coach - Hastings College:  13-4-1     

2006    Head Coach - College of the Southwest:  17-3           

2005    Head Coach - Lambuth University:  12-6-3

2004    Head Coach - Lambuth University:  3-13-1

2003    Head Coach - Lambuth University:  5-14         

2002    Head Coach - New Jersey City University:  5-14

2001    Head Coach - New Jersey City University:  5-13        
   

#wiuathletics