The following is a press release courtesy of Iowa State athletics communications.
AMES, Iowa- Iowa State head soccer coach Tony Minatta announced the hiring of Megan Kerns and the retainment of assistant coach Jason Wichman today. Kerns spent this season with the Cyclones as a volunteer assistant, while Wichman has been a part of the Iowa State coaching staff for the past two seasons.
The hiring of Kerns and Wichman puts the finishing touches on Minatta’s staff.
“I’m really excited to continue to work with Jason,” Minatta said. “He has done an outstanding job with the goalkeepers. He has a great rapport not just with the team, but with the athletic department staff. He’s a very hard worker who is dedicated to the improvement and overall success of the Cyclone soccer program.”
Under Wichman’s leadership, the Cyclones advanced to the 2013 Big 12 soccer tournament for the first time since 2007. Wichman, who was primarily in charge of Iowa State’s goalkeeping in 2013, helped guide the Cyclones to one of the best defensive seasons in school history recording seven total shutouts and finishing fourth in the Big 12 with 93 saves. Since Wichman has taken over as an assistant coach the Cyclones have recorded 14 total shutouts.
Wichman graduated from Simpson College in 2004 and has also earned his NSCAA National Goalkeeping Diploma and NSCAA National Diploma. Wichman has also had coaching stints at Texas State and Drake.
Kerns, who spent last season as a volunteer coach, will join the Cyclone coaching staff full-time this season.
Minatta credits Kerns’ impressive resume as a key reason why she was hired.
“Megan is an incredible addition to the staff.” Minatta said. “Being an All-American forward who was drafted into women’s professional soccer adds an element to our staff that we don’t have. I think she will provide our forwards and attacking players with idiosyncrasies about the game which are going to help them improve and be able to be more prolific in their scoring as well.”
As a volunteer coach last season, Kerns primarily helped with forwards and attacking players. Under Kerns’ leadership the Cyclones buried 26 goals and finished fourth in the Big 12 with 25 assists. Iowa State finished sixth in the Big 12 conference with 1.30 goals per game.
An Ames native, Kerns amassed an impressive career playing for the University of Florida soccer team from 2005-08. During her senior year Kerns was named All-SEC First Team and third-team All-American by SoccerBuzz.com. She ended her collegiate career ranked eighth on Florida’s career points list with 62 and also garnered numerous academic accolades, including being a 2007 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar second-team selection and a NSCAA Academic All-American.
