Stephen Anthony has announced that he is retiring from coaching the Valparaiso University women’s soccer program and will now work fulltime as the associate director of athletics for business services.  John Marovich, Anthony’s associate head coach, has been named the Crusaders’ new head coach by Valpo director of athletics Mark LaBarbera.

                “This is a win-win for athletics,” LaBarbera said.  Adding Stephen Anthony as a full time administrator enables us to better support our teams in their efforts to win championships.  Having a coach of John Marovich’s quality take over the leadership of women’s soccer continues the championship tradition he has helped Coach Anthony establish.”

                Anthony, the winningest coach in Valpo history, compiled a 78-101-13 record in 10 seasons at the helm of the Brown and Gold.  A three-time Mid-Continent Conference Coach of the Year, he guided the Crusaders to its first Mid-Continent Conference regular season and tournament titles in 2005, along with the school’s first berth in the NCAA Tournament.  Valpo repeated as regular season champion again in 2006, tying a school record with 12 victories and posting a school-best .711 winning percentage.

                 During his tenure as head coach, Anthony had 35 All-Conference selections, including 12 named to the First Team.  He also had 104 student-athletes garner Academic All-Conference accolades.  Anthony guided the Mid-Con Newcomer of the Year in both 1999 and 2006 as well.

                 “The opportunity to lead the women's soccer program the last 10 years has been truly rewarding,” Anthony said.  “I came to Valpo with three simple goals: to turn the team into a winning program, to advance to the NCAA tournament, and to prepare myself for a career opportunity in athletic administration. I am pleased that this opportunity in administration will be at Valpo and I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to the athletic department on a greater scale.  I would like to thank Mark LaBarbera and the university administration for this opportunity and again I look forward to assisting the athletic administration, coaches, and student-athletes as we continue to strive for excellence in competition, in the classroom, and the community.

                 “I would also like to thank my current coaching staff, John Marovich and Dane Fuchs, and former assistants and athletic trainers for their tremendous support and dedication to the program and my vision as head coach.  My success is a reflection of their passion for the program and game, and certainly I would not have reached my goals without their contributions.

                 “Finally I would like to thank the current team and former players for accomplishing such high goals on the field and in the classroom and in turn creating a winning culture that will only make Valpo soccer stronger in the future,” Anthony concluded.  “I wish Coach Marovich and the current players all the best as they move forward towards their goal of winning the Horizon League. The team will always be a part of me and I am excited about the opportunity to be a part of their success on an administrative level.”

                 Marovich has been a member of the Crusader women’s soccer staff beginning as an assistant coach prior to the 2002 season.  In 2005, he was promoted to associate head coach, a role he has filled the last three seasons.  

                He helped Valpo to the two Mid-Con titles in 2005 and 2006, and helped the Brown and Gold obtain five league tournament berths in his six seasons.

                 Marovich arrived at Valpo after spending the 2001 season as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Notre Dame, where he helped lead the Fighting Irish to the Big East regular season and tournament championships.

                 He was also the head girls’ coach at Andrean High School for seven seasons, leading the 59ers to the state title match in 1999.

                 “I am extremely excited about the opportunity to lead the women’s soccer program at Valparaiso University,” Marovich said.  I would like to thank Mark LaBarbera for entrusting the future of this program to my staff and I.  When this opportunity presented itself, I felt like it was an ideal situation because of the support from the Valparaiso community, the student body, the faculty and staff, and the athletic department, but most importantly the tremendous student athletes that I work with every day that make up this program.  I can’t wait to help them achieve their dreams academically, professionally, and athletically.”

                “I know our players relished the level of competition in the Horizon League in our inaugural season,” Marovich added.  “We are going to work with unwavering industriousness, enthusiasm, and poise to achieve a championship caliber program in the Horizon League.”