MACOMB, Ill. - Western Illinois Athletics announced that women's soccer head coach Tony Guinn has resigned his position after five years in charge of the program. A national search for a replacement will begin immediately.

During Guinn's tenure, the Leatherneck women posted a 49-37-10 overall record and 24-17-2 in Summit League play. His 49 wins in five years are five more than what the women's soccer program accumulated during its first 10 years of existence.

Guinn will take over the men's soccer program at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and teach at the university. The move allows Guinn to be much closer to his 11-year-old son Shaymus, who continues to live in Wisconsin while battling Ewings Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. Last fall Shaymus was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which is caused by the radiation treatments. Guinn spent most of last season on leave from the team to be with Shaymus.

"Tony instantly turned our women's soccer program into an annual Summit League championship contender all while his student-athletes earned numerous academic honors. Our success on the field was unprecedented. In his first year, he captured our first-ever women's soccer regular season Summit League championship and two times took us to the tournament championship game," said Director of Athletics Dr. Tim Van Alstine. "Tony always had the best interest of his student-athletes in mind, but as Shaymus continues his treatments this move will allow Tony to be by his side more often. I want to thank Tony for his five years at Western Illinois. We are all sad to see Tony leave and want wish him well in his future endeavors."

Guinn took over the program in 2007 and Western captured its first regular season Summit League championship with an 8-0 mark. He was named 'Coach of the Year' as the program earned its first-ever regional ranking at No. 15 in the Great Lakes Region. Western's 16-3-1 overall record put its winning percentage at fourth in the nation (.825).

Western finished among the top four in the next two seasons to qualify for the postseason tournament. The 2010 team tied for second in the regular season standings, and upset the top-seeded team in the tournament semifinals to make its third championship game appearance.

In five years, Guinn's teams protected the home turf going 26-12-5 at John MacKenzie Alumni Field.

"Being at Western has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I love my players, and telling them I was leaving was one of the most difficult things I've ever had to do as a coach," said Guinn. "I would like to thank the Macomb community for the constant acts of kindness towards my family. I think that my son Shaymus has changed everyone's life on campus, and he will always have a special place in his heart for Macomb."