Staff Report

MARION – Judson College now knows who will be leading its soccer team during the inaugural season later this year.

Judson recently hired coach Bryan Weiss of Rochester, Minn., to head the college’s first-time intercollegiate women’s soccer team, which will begin its first season in the fall of 2008.

Weiss, who has 15 years of coaching experience under his belt, was hired and began recruiting for Judson in mid March. He holds a Master of Science in sports management from the United States Sports Academy in Daphne, and was most recently the men’s head soccer coach for Crossroads College in Rochester.

“My family and I came down for a visit and we felt really good about Judson,” Weiss said. “I felt that I could really sell Judson to high school athletes. We prayed about the move and felt that it was God’s hand leading us here. So, here I am and my family will be joining me as soon as loose ends are tied up back in Minnesota.”

The Judson College Board of Trustees approved the addition of soccer as an intercollegiate sport at Judson last October at the behest of representatives from the Admissions Office. The completion of the new Charles F. Dunkin Athletic Complex in 2007 was also instrumental in helping the college move ahead with the new addition.

“The one sport we didn’t have here at Judson that we are most often asked about in admissions by prospective students is soccer,” said Charlotte Clements, vice president for admissions and financial aid at Judson College. “The sport is just wildly popular with girls everywhere, so it made sense for us to ask for the addition. The new sports complex with our new soccer field allowed us to get this into motion, as well.”

Judson College President Dr. David Potts said the arrival of Weiss on campus has added momentum to recruiting for the soccer team, something admissions representatives at the college have been doing individually since January.

“We are eagerly anticipating next year’s soccer games on the new field,” Potts said. “Bryan Weiss is a man of character and faith who supports the mission of Christian higher education at the college and he has great experience in coaching soccer at all levels.”