IU East hires Shane Meridith to coach the Red Wolves' new women's soccer program

7/22/2016 12:00:00 AM

(By IU East Sports Information)

RICHMOND, Ind. - Shane Meridith has been appointed head coach of Indiana University East's new NAIA women's soccer program, the school announced July 13. The Red Wolves will begin competing in Rivers States Conference and NAIA women's soccer in 2017.

Meridith brings extensive college coaching experience to the new Red Wolf program. Meridith won conference Coach of the Year honors twice during his tenure at Earlham College, where he was the women's soccer head coach from 1994 to 2000 and from 2012 to 2015. Meridith served as an assistant coach for NCAA Division I programs at IUPUI, Miami University (Ohio) and the University of Iowa between 2003 and 2012. He previously was a volunteer assistant for the NCAA Division I program at Ball State University.

Meridith has coached club teams in Cincinnati and Carmel. He has experience as a staff coach for the Indiana Youth Soccer Association and the United State Youth Soccer Association.

"I'm excited to be joining a university that continues to grow and flourish, and I strive to establish a program that reflects all the positive things IU East and the Red Wolf athletic department are doing," Meridith said.

Meridith graduated from Earlham College with a Bachelor of Arts in Studies in Education. He has completed coursework toward a master's degree in sport psychology at Ball State University.

Meridith will focus on recruiting the Red Wolf roster during the 2016-17 school year. The team will begin NAIA competition during the 2017-18 school year.

IU East estimates 50 total student-athletes will participate in the men's and women's soccer programs.

IU East's soccer teams will compete alongside the school's other athletics teams in the newly renamed River States Conference. The league will have 10 men's and women's soccer programs for the 2017 fall season.

The addition of men's and women's soccer brings the total number of National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) varsity sports offered at IU East to 15. The Red Wolves currently compete in men's and women's basketball, women's volleyball, men's and women's golf, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's tennis, and men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field. IU East offers more NAIA sports than any other IU regional campus.

VIDEO: Shane Meridith joins Kaleb Gillock on "Inside IU East Sports"

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT SHANE MERIDITH

• "Shane is a great addition to IU East. The years and depth of his coaching experience will allow him to hit the ground running to build a program. I see him as another high-level coach that is joining the Red Wolves coaching staff and will build the type of program that will make IU East and the Richmond community proud." - IU East Director of Athletics Joe Griffin

• "Shane Meridith is one of the most experienced and hard-working coaches that I know. In addition to building a winning program at Earlham College early in his career, he went on to help Ball State and the University of Iowa achieve winning seasons after his arrival. Shane is a great person, he cares about his players on and off the field, and he is the kind of coach that players want to play for." - IUPUI women's soccer coach Chris Johnson

• "IU East soccer has taken a great step forward by bringing in Shane Meridith. He is a tremendously talented coach with experience at the highest levels of collegiate soccer." - Miami University (Ohio) women's soccer coach Bobby Kramig

• "Shane is a great soccer coach as far as tactics, how he organizes practice and how he motivates players. What's really great about Shane is the connections he makes with players and the people he is around. Shane is a good person, fun to be around, and passionate about teaching. He is going to be a great choice to start the program." - Dartmouth College women's soccer coach Ron Rainey

• "Shane is a bright soccer mind and has an ability to connect with players. These traits, along with his energy and enthusiasm every day, will create a wonderful soccer culture for the players and staff at Indiana University East." -Valparaiso University women's soccer coach John Marovich