Ferris State Soccer Coaching Staff Honored As Regional Staff Of Year After Historic Season

Big Rapids, Mich. - After a record-breaking campaign and the most historic season in Ferris State University women's soccer history, the Bulldog coaching staff has received praise as the 2018 United Soccer Coaches Association Regional Staff of the Year.

The national organization tabbed the Bulldogs and head coach Andy McCaslin as the Midwest Region's recipient at the NCAA Division II level following a NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen finish. A total of 24 coaching staffs from across the country at the NCAA Division I, II and III levels were recognized for their teams' performance.

As the region's award winner, the Bulldog staff will honored honored and recognized at the United Soccer Coaches Awards Reception on Thursday, Jan. 10, during the organization's annual convention in Chicago.

In addition, the regional staff of the year recipients will be placed on the United Soccer Coaches ballot for National Staff of the Year consideration within their respective NCAA division. The ballot will also include the addition of coaching staffs from any schools which advance to the semifinals of their NCAA Championship play. The Men's and Women's National Staffs of the Year will be announced for all NCAA divisions on Dec. 14.

The Bulldogs had a record-breaking season this fall with a school all-time best 17-4-3 overall record under McCaslin. FSU reached the national tournament for the first time in school history and won their opening two games at home before falling to top-ranked rival Grand Valley State in the third round of the national tournament.

Ferris State finished a memorable season with multipe school records such as the most wins, fewest losses, highest winning percentage, best road record, most goals scored and most shutouts in a single campaign. This year also marked the first time the Bulldog squad has ever had three different goalkeepers record at least one shutout.

In addition, FSU was nationally ranked for most of the season, which is the first time in the program's 20-year history FSU has ranked among the nation's top 25 teams.

The Bulldogs finished second in the GLIAC Regular Season standings, the highest finish in program history before also making their first-ever appearance in the GLIAC Tournament Championship game.

Along with McCaslin, the Bulldog coaching staff this fall also included assistant coach Stacey McCaslin, volunteer assistant coach Taylor Peacock, student assistant Kathryn Nutter and Dave Cencer, who served as the squad's strength and conditioning coach in his role as Coordinator of Athletic Performance.