Pete Felske announced his retirement as head women's soccer coach in July of 2021 following 33 years at the helm of the program. Felske is the only coach in the program's successful history and he also served as the head coach of the softball team from 2001-2006.
Under his direction, Wheaton has won 21 CCIW Championships, appeared in seven NCAA Final Fours and won the 2004, 2006, and 2007 NCAA Division III National Championships. He has compiled an all-time record of 525-128-41 and has been named the CCIW Coach of the Year 17 times. Felske was the recipient of the National Soccer Coaches Association (NSCAA) Division III "Coach of the Year Award" in 2004, 2006 and 2007. He is third among current active Division III Women's coaches in victories, and he is among the top 10 all-time win leaders among coaches at all NCAA levels of women's soccer.
Wheaton won its fourth-consecutive CCIW title in 2019, going undefeated in CCIW play for the third consecutive season with a record of 8-0. Wheaton reached the Sectional Semifinals with an overall record of 18-1-3 before bowing out to St. Thomas in a shootout. Felske was again named the CCIW Coach of the Year and Sarah Tomich repeated as the CCIW Defensive Player of the Year. Both Tomich and Sara Bakke earned All-American honors.
The Thunder defended their CCIW title in 2018, going 8-0 in CCIW play with Felske winning his 16th CCIW Coach of the Year as the Thunder reached the National Quarterfinals with a record of 19-4-1. During the season, Felske became just the seventh women's soccer coach in NCAA history to record 500 career victories. Sarah Tomich earned All-American honors and was named the inaugural CCIW Defensive Player of the Year.
Felske's squad repeated as CCIW Champions in 2017, recording a 7-0-1 record in the CCIW. Felske won his 15th CCIW Coach of the Year award and Wheaton finished the season with a record of 15-5-3 overall, returning the Sweet 16. Madison Peebles earned All-American recognition as well as being named the CCIW Most Outstanding Player.
In 2016, Felske won his 18th CCIW Championship as he was named the CCIW Coach of the Year for the 14th time. Wheaton posted a record of 12-8 overall with a 7-1 run through the CCIW. Mary Pettit was named an All-American.
His 2014 team won Wheaton's 17th CCIW Championship as Pete earned NSCAA Central Region Coach of the Year honors and CCIW Coach of the Year. Wheaton posted an 18-2-2 record in 2014, producing three All-Americans in Alexa Sharkey, Ally Witt and Kelsey Graham.
Felske's 2013 team recorded a record of 20-2-2 and reached the National Quarterfinals. The Thunder opened the year with 16 consecutive games without a loss and ascended to the No. 1 ranking for the first time in five years. Felske was named CCIW Coach of the Year and had two players honored as All-Americans.
In 2012, Wheaton compiled a record of 21-4-2 and reached their second consecutive trip to the National Semifinals. Three team members were named All-Americans. With a 4-0 victory over Illinois Wesleyan on Oct. 20, Felske earned his 400th career victory.
In 2011, Wheaton went 23-2-2 and reached the NCAA National Championship game. The Thunder finished second to Messiah College. Felske was named the NSCAA/Mondo Central Region Coach of the Year for the second-straight year. Three members of the team were named All-Americans, with Jaime Orewiler capturing National Player of the Year honors.
In 2010, the Thunder went 20-2-2 and reached the Round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament. Felske was named NSCAA/Mondo Central Region Coach of the Year.
In 2008, the Thunder went 22-4-2 and made another run to the National Championship game, which ended in a loss to Messiah College. Junior co-captain Taryne Lee earned the CCIW's "Most Outstanding Player Award" and was named First Team All-American for the second-straight year. Wheaton's win streak from the previous two years stretched to 48 games before it was ended in September (the second-longest in Division III history). Over the course of the year, Wheaton outscored opponents 106-27.
In 2007, Felske guided the Thunder to its third National Championship in four years. Sophomore team captain Taryne Lee was named Division III Player of the Year by the NSCAA. Felske's team ended the 2007 season sustaining a 45-match winning streak.
In 2006, Felske guided the Thunder to its second National Championship as team captain Laura Koontz was named the Division III Player of the Year by the NSCAA. Felske's club did not allow a goal in six postseason matches, outscoring foes 14-0 throughout the NCAA Tournament.
In 2005, the Thunder posted a 21-3-0 mark and reached the regional semifinals. In 2004, the Thunder defeated the University of Puget Sound to win the National Championship, finishing with a 25-1 record.
The Wheaton women's soccer program, which was elevated to varsity status in 1988, has compiled a 110-7 record in CCIW conference play and had won 12 consecutive CCIW championships. Wheaton players have been named the CCIW Player of the Year for 17 straight seasons.
Felske has had 13 players recognized as All-America selections in his time at Wheaton. Additionally, Jessica Elsen was named the NSCAA Player of the Year in 2004; Laura Koontz won the award in 2006 and Taryne Lee was the honoree in 2007.
Felske earned a Bachelor's degree in psychology from Wheaton College in 1986. A former soccer player at Wheaton, he was a member of the 1984 NCAA Division III national championship team and was inducted into Wheaton's "Hall of Honor" in 2002.
Felske lives in Wheaton with his wife Jennifer and son Hayden. A 1988 Wheaton grad, Jennifer is a Podiatrist at Wheaton Orthopaedics in Carol Stream, Illinois.
