ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western head women's soccer coach Chad Edwards announced his resignation, Tuesday, to pursue a career in the aviation industry. Edwards will leave Missouri Western as the program's all-time winningest head coach, with 74 victories in his nine seasons leading the team.
"It has been the honor of a lifetime to be a part of Griffon soccer, Missouri Western and St Joseph these past nine years," Edwards said. "The relationships developed, the memories created and all of the experiences have far exceeded my expectations when I was fortunate to be given this opportunity. I give all credit for our success to all of the incredible student-athletes who have worn the Griffon uniform along with our graduate assistants and assistant coaches, athletic trainers and administration. I will be forever grateful for all the wonderful families that entrusted us. I will never be able to thank everyone or put into words how incredibly thankful I am for this chapter. Griffon soccer will be forever in my heart."
Aviation was my first passion and always had been. I have been blessed with an incredible opportunity that at this point in time, our family has decided is best for our future."
Edwards led a total turnaround of the young program, taking over in 2011 as the third head coach in the program's seventh year of existence. The upward swing began in year-four of the Edwards era when the Griffons improved their overall win total by seven games and their MIAA win total by six games, making the postseason for the first time in program history and beginning a string of five-straight appearances. In 2015, Edwards led MWSU to its first-ever winning season. Two years later, he led MWSU to its first-ever appearance in the NCAA postseason. The 2017 Griffons finished as the MIAA regular season and postseason runners-up to eventual national champion Central Missouri. That 2017 team also set program records for wins, points, goals and assists in a season along with multiple individual records and 10 All-MIAA honors.
"Chad is a beacon of positivity and will be greatly missed in our department," vice president of intercollegiate athletics Dr. Josh Looney said. "His dedication to the Griffs, collegiate soccer and aviation has always been unwavering. We are very sad to lose him prior to the 2020-21 season, but are excited he is chasing this dream. All of us have known about his love for flying and many in our department have flown with him over the years. It is rare someone is able to navigate their professional career throughout multiple passions. MWSU is fortunate to have had Chad's leadership over the past nine years."
His teams were every bit as successful off the pitch as on. MWSU soccer student-athletes were consistently among the top academic performers in the athletic department. Edwards commanded philanthropy in the St. Joseph community, earning the team a Bronze Presidential Volunteer Service Award for countless hours working with St. Joseph's Habitat for Humanity. Last year, the soccer program received its sixth consecutive Team Ethics and Sportsmanship Award from the United Soccer Coaches, an award the program was bestowed in all but one of Edwards' seasons as head coach.
A national search to find Edwards' replacement will begin immediately.
--- MWSU Athletics ---