Women’s Soccer Coaching Team Celebrated with Prestigious National Award

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The head coach of Washington University in St. Louis women’s soccer, Jim Conlon, along with his assistant coaches Brandon Santel and Amanda Kesler, have been honored as the 2024 Division III National Coaching Staff of the Year by United Soccer Coaches.
 
This recognition marks the second occasion in Conlon’s career that his coaching staff has achieved this national accolade, with the first being awarded in 2018.
 
The season was monumental for the Bears under Conlon’s leadership, achieving the program’s second national championship, finishing with a remarkable 23-0-2 record, marking the first-ever season for the program without a defeat. WashU established multiple new program milestones: single-season victories (23), single-season winning percentage (.960), unbeaten streak including ties (25), and shutouts (18).
 
The Bears – who maintained the top position in the national rankings throughout the season – conceded only a single goal during the entire postseason, commencing with a 2-0 victory over DePauw in the opening round. They triumphed over Simpson with a score of 5-1 in the second round and subsequently overcame Colby 1-0 in the Sweet 16. WashU defeated UAA rival Chicago 1-0 in the Elite 8, securing a place in the finals held in Las Vegas.
 
In the national semifinal against No. 2 Christopher Newport, the Bears scored three goals in the second half, reaching the national final for the second consecutive year. WashU then added three more second-half goals against No. 11 William Smith to claim the championship.
 
All coaching awards are decided by member coaches within their respective divisions, beginning with the selection of the Regional Staff of the Year. Each Regional Coaching Staff of the Year is then placed on the ballot for the National Coaching Staff of the Year alongside staff from schools that reached the semifinals of their respective championships.
 
Conlon, Santel, and Kesler will be celebrated at the United Soccer Coaches Convention, which will take place in Chicago from January 8-12, 2025.