Megan McCormick was hesitant to join DePauw University’s soccer coaching staff in 2012. Now, she’s finding it hard to say goodbye.
After three years, McCormick has stepped down as the women’s head soccer coach to pursue a coaching position outside of collegiate soccer. DePauw officially announced her resignation Tuesday morning.
“A lot of me falling in love with DePauw was the people. It caught me off guard in some ways,” McCormick said. “It’s tough to leave.”
Under McCormick, the Tigers went 26-22-5, a stretch that included the team’s second NCAC tournament title and first NCAC regular season championship. McCormick previously served as the team’s assistant coach for two years before taking over as head coach in 2014.
“Megan has defined what it truly means to be a player for the Women’s Soccer Program at DePauw,” said senior forward Bridget Brendza. “She pushed each and every one of us to become better soccer players, better students, and overall better individuals.”
Apart from the team’s success on the field, Assistant Coach Doug Starnes is quick to note the immense influence McCormick had on the development of the team’s chemistry.
“She’s a tremendous coach. Highly organized, really thoughtful,” said Starnes, who will serve as the team’s interim head coach this season. “She really took a holistic approach to the team and made sure the team culture was moving in the direction that it needed to move in.”
Starnes’ relationship with McCormick dates back before either came to DePauw.
The two had met playing co-ed indoor soccer when McCormick was finishing her undergrad at Ball State University. As they continued to play regionally together, their friendship grew. Shortly after graduating, McCormick realized she was torn between pursuing a career in architecture and coaching.
It was Starnes who pushed her in the right direction.
“I told her, ‘chase coaching as long as you can,’” said Starnes, who had worked in federal law enforcement for eight years. “The entire time that I was working for [law enforcement]… I missed being around the game. I think those words really rang true for her.”
McCormick heeded Starnes’ advice and never looked back. Before starting at DePauw, McCormick served as an assistant coach for Marian University’s women’s soccer program. She also spent time at the club level, helping coach teams that included the Dynamo FC U17 girl’s team, according to DePauw’s athletic website.
Starnes’ words have stuck with her ever since. When McCormick took over DePauw’s program in 2014, her first order of business was finding an assistant coach. She immediately thought of Starnes for the job.
While the 2015 NCAC Coach of the Year has made her mark in DePauw athletics, McCormick is beyond proud of what her players have done for the program over the past five years.
“The character of people is where it starts. It was important to us to give players ownership of the team,” said McCormick. “The success was all their own. That’s something that they worked for.”