Well-known in the Owensboro soccer world, Ty Stauffer is taking over the reins as head coach of the Kentucky Wesleyan College women’s soccer program. Stauffer is replacing Jamie Duvall, who led the team for 12 seasons.
Stauffer is a Wesleyan alum, starting 4 years for the men’s soccer team and becoming the first All-American in program history. The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) also crowned him player of the year. He also played 4 years of basketball KWC and was part of the 1990 National Championship team.
“He impressed all of us on his campus visit and brings with him the experience, expertise, energy, and passion for this important job,” said Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Mark Shook. “He will work tirelessly to take our women’s soccer program to the next level – in all phases.”
In 2002 Stauffer created SportsTutor, a premier soccer training academy in the tri-state area. He is also a U.S. Soccer Coaching Licensed Instructor and the Coaching Director of the Owensboro United Soccer Club. Other accolades include serving as a coach on the U.S. youth futsal U14 and U16 girls’ national teams.
“I have a lot of experience in the sport, and I know I can do a good job,” Stauffer said. “It helps that I know the local landscape with the many connections I’ve formed over the years. I want to identify and find those kids.”
Regarding recruiting, he wants to comprise his claw of Panthers out of a core group of local and regional kids that play at a high level and pair them with some elite overlooked players outside of the KWC pipeline.
“Successful coaches at Wesleyan, in any sport, have traditionally leaned on local kids and a handful of difference makers from all over,” he said. “I want to follow that model.”
Fresh out of college, Stauffer led the women’s soccer program in 1993 during their inaugural season. He described the opportunity to return and finish what he started as exciting and is approaching it with optimism.
“In 1993, at the request of the KWC president, I was thrust into this position with no experience or plan,” he said. “Since then, it has been a personal goal to finish what I started and to help the program achieve accolades on and off the field that reflect the time, effort, and persistence of all those involved, past and present. This position is far more than just a coaching job for me.”
