GOSHEN, Ind. – Veteran high school coach and Goshen College graduate Dale Stoltzfus has been hired as the head coach of the Maple Leaf women's soccer program, Athletic Director Tim Demant announced Thursday.
"We are extremely excited to have someone of Dale's experience and winning track record lead our women's soccer program," Demant said. "As a former Goshen College student-athlete, it is great to have Dale back wearing the Maple Leaf purple and white."
In 36 total seasons - coaching girls and boys high school teams in Indiana and Pennsylvania - Stoltzfus has amassed an impressive 477-194-52 career record. In addition to numerous coach of the year honors, Stoltzfus and his teams' have won a pair of Pennsylvania state championships and twice made it to the Indiana semi-state round.
Upon graduating from Goshen College in 1984 with a degree in Secondary Education (Mathematics), Stoltzfus spent seven years working in the computer field doing programming, sales, and technical support. He also quickly joined Dwain Hartzler's coaching staff at his alma mater, assisting with the Maple Leaf men during the 1984 and 1985 seasons.
He eventually coached and taught at Elkhart Central High School, leading the boys team to a record of 188-66-27 and two appearances in the state final four. He also coached the girls side for four seasons, finishing with a mark of 31-25-3.
In 1999, Stoltzfus moved back to his native Pennsylvania to accept a teaching and coaching position at Warwick High School. In 13 seasons as the Head Boys Soccer Coach at Warwick, he compiled a 176-66-27 record and won the 2005 PIAA State Championship.
On the girls' side, Stoltzfus coached four seasons at Lancaster Mennonite High School, leading the Blazers to a 82-17-4 record, the 2008 PIAA State Championship, and a state runner-up finish in 2009.
"After being a head high school soccer coach for 36 seasons, I am looking forward to the challenge of moving to the next level and working with an age group four years older," Stoltzfus explained. "I enjoy the challenge of developing a team from the beginning of the season and progressing and/or building so many various characteristics of the sport along the way into making them a better team."
He continued, "With my wife and I both becoming 'empty nesters,' returning to Goshen College where my wife and I graduated from sounds very appealing. I cherish the opportunity to return to Goshen to work with the women's soccer program and hopefully be able to develop the student-athletes into better soccer players and members of the Goshen College community."
Stoltzfus will transition to Goshen this spring, allowing him time to get to know and work with the current roster of players as well as incoming recruits before the summer break. The Maple Leafs will open Stoltzfus' first campaign in August.
