North Michigan News

Jon Sandoval has resigned from his position as head coach of the Northern Michigan University women's soccer team after five seasons. He will be taking on a new role as head coach at Loyola University Chicago, a Division I school. Sandoval expressed mixed emotions about leaving NMU, stating, "Stepping down as head coach at Northern Michigan University is bittersweet." He praised the student-athletes for their hard work and dedication, which he believes were key to the program's success.

During his tenure at NMU, Sandoval set records in overall winning percentage (70.3%), conference winning percentage (73.8%), and single-season winning percentage (81.8% in 2023). His leadership led to significant achievements for the Wildcats, including GLIAC regular season titles and NCAA Tournament appearances in both 2023 and 2024—the first in the program's history.

Sandoval's contributions extended beyond athletics; he coached numerous All-Americans and Academic All-Americans while fostering strong academic performance among his players. His overall record with the Wildcats was an impressive 60-21-15.

Rick Comley, Athletic Director at NMU, commended Sandoval for his accomplishments and wished him well in his future endeavors at Loyola. "We greatly appreciate everything he has accomplished here at Northern Michigan," said Comley.

Sandoval reflected fondly on his time at NMU and Marquette, where he built personal memories with his family. He expressed gratitude for the community's support throughout his career.

Sandoval leaves behind a solid foundation for NMU's soccer program following back-to-back GLIAC Championships, setting up favorable conditions for a successor to continue building upon.