Women's Soccer

UW-Eau Claire's Yengo Announces Retirement After 29 Years of Blugold Soccer

**Release courtesy of UW-Eau Claire Sports Information

EAU CLAIRE, Wis.--After 29 flourishing seasons, Sean Yengo has announced his retirement as head coach of UW-Eau Claire women's soccer. Yengo finishes his storied career as UW-Eau Claire's winningest women's soccer coach and holds the second most wins in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference women's soccer history.

"It has been an absolute honor to work at UWEC for the past 30 years," said Coach Yengo. "Billy Grahm said, 'a coach will effect more lives in one year than most of us will in a lifetime'. But what they fail to mention is that a coach is affected equally and passionately in the same way. It's a two-way street and I hope my players and coaching staff have learned as much from me as I have learned from them. I'd like to say thank you to everyone who I had the privilege to have on staff including Kimamo Wahome, Shamus Funk, JD Jones, Tim Shiell, Ben Washburn, Anna Sveiven, and Kell Boddie. A great coach surrounds themselves with people who are smarter than they are and think differently than they do. Lastly, to my family who supported me through the great seasons and the challenging ones. You all were as much a part of the team as I was and so much fun seeing my kids grow up in that environment. We are so thankful for everything UWEC has provided us and our family."

Yengo is among the most successful women's soccer coaches in the history of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. He surpassed 300 career victories during the 2023 season and finishes his career with a 323-202-66 record. He has the most victories of any active WIAC coach and at the time of his 300th win, became one of just over 50 coaches in NCAA Division III history to hit the milestone and was one of only 25 active coaches to do so.

"Congratulations to Sean on an outstanding career and a tremendous legacy at UW-Eau Claire," UWEC Director of Athletics Jason Verdugo said. "Over 29 seasons, he built one of the most respected programs in the WIAC and made a lasting impact on countless student-athletes. His commitment to excellence, both on and off the field, is reflected in the success of the program and the people who have come through it. We are grateful for everything Sean has done for Blugold Athletics and wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement."

Yengo guided the Blugolds to three consecutive WIAC championships in 2005, 2006 and 2007, with the team sweeping both the regular season and conference tournament titles each time. His squads have played in four NCAA Tournaments, making four consecutive appearances from 2005-08. They advanced to at least the second round in three of those four tournaments, highlighted by a Sweet 16 berth in 2006.

Yengo was a three-time WIAC Coach of the Year and was named the NSCAA Central Region Coach of the Year in 2006. His teams have produced 85 All-WIAC selections, 34 All-Region players, five NSCAA All-Americans, four NSCAA Scholar All-Americans, six Judy Kruckman WIAC Scholar Athletes, 74 WIAC Players of the Week, and three WIAC Players of the Year. His squads earn NSCAA Team Academic Awards and NSCAA Team Ethics Awards on a regular basis.

A nationwide search for a new head coach will commence immediately.
 
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