Wheaton, Ill. – Wheaton College head volleyball coach
Jennifer King Soderquist has announced her retirement as head coach, effective at the conclusion of the 2012-13 school year. King Soderquist, a 1977 graduate of Wheaton College, was named the head coach of the Wheaton volleyball program in 1986. She has served in that capacity at her alma mater for 27 seasons and spent 30 years total coaching in the college ranks.
In her 30 seasons as a collegiate volleyball coach, King Soderquist compiled a career record of 641-568. Her 641 career wins is 14th all-time among NCAA Division III head volleyball coaches and she concluded the 2012 season ranked eighth all-time in victories among active Division III head coaches.
“In making my decision to retire from coaching volleyball at Wheaton College, I knew that it would not be easy to say goodbye after 27 years,” noted King Soderquist. She added, “I am, however, very excited to more closely connect my career with inner-city Chicago, where my family and I live, worship and minister, and have done so for the past 23 years.”
In her 27 seasons at Wheaton, King Soderquist's teams always included ministry as a key component. Under her guidance the program took seven sports ministry “Volleyball Vision Trips” that included competition, clinics, teaching and ministry around the globe. Volleyball was the first women's sport in the Wheaton Athletics Department to take a global sports ministry trip.
Wheaton College Athletics Director
Julie Davis noted, “Jennifer's coaching has been marked by a deep and passionate commitment to the development of her players both on and off of the court. Through her coaching ministry, Jennifer mentored young women to live authentically for the Kingdom and to grow in Christian discipleship while pursuing athletic excellence. Jennifer's success as a coach and mentor to our student-athletes has laid a solid foundation for the volleyball program.”
In 27 seasons at Wheaton, King Soderquist compiled a record of 611-509, guiding Wheaton to a CCIW Championship in 1989. She led Wheaton to a pair of NCAA Division III Volleyball Tournament appearances, as the program reached the postseason in both the 1987 and 1989 seasons. Her teams have finished in the top-three at the CCIW Tournament 11 times and have compiled a total of 17 seasons of 20 or more wins. Three of her student-athletes have earned All-American recognition and nine have been selected as All-Region honorees.
King Soderquist noted, “It has been a fantastic privilege to coach and mentor student-athletes for 27 seasons at Wheaton. It has also been an incredible joy to see them grow as Godly women both on and off the volleyball court.” She added, “It has also been a great privilege to minister alongside, learn with, and learn from my committed colleagues in the Wheaton Athletics Department. I am very grateful for Wheaton College's ongoing mission to develop followers of Jesus to impact this world in and out of competition.”
