Wheaton, Ill. – Pete Felske has announced his retirement as head women's soccer coach, effective June 18. A 1986 graduate of Wheaton, Felske has been the only coach in the history of the Wheaton women's soccer program. He was named the head coach of the team, in its one season as a club sport in 1987. Women's soccer began as a varsity sport in 1988 under his guidance and he served a total of 33 seasons as the head coach of the program.

Felske compiled a record of 525-128-39 in his career at Wheaton. His 525 career wins ranks third in NCAA Division III women's soccer history. His career win total is fifth all-time among NCAA women's soccer head coaches at any level.

Felske was named the Division III Coach of the Year three times by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA): 2004; 2006 and 2007. He guided Wheaton to NCAA Division III Championships in 2004, 2006 and 2007. His teams made a total of seven appearances in the Division III Women's Soccer "Final Four" with National Runner-Up finishes in 2008 and 2011 and Semifinalist finishes in 2001 and 2012. Wheaton made 22 NCAA Division III Tournament appearances in Felske's tenure, with a postseason record of 56-15-6.     
 
Felske recalls, "I grew up here in town and my parents started bringing me to Wheaton sporting events when I was seven years old – that was 50 years ago." He enrolled at Wheaton as a freshman in 1982 and played four seasons of men's soccer (1982-85). Following his graduation in 1986, Felske was named the first head coach of the women's soccer program. He continues, "Who would have thought that 16 years after attending that first game with my parents, Tony Ladd [Wheaton's now-retired Athletics Director] would have given me the opportunity to coach this team at 23 years old. Now, 34 years later I am still here, so Wheaton has been a huge part of my life for 50 years." Felske says of his decision to retire, "This is the just the right time. I have been thinking about retirement for some time, and this just feels right. It is something I have been discussing with my wife for a while now."

Wheaton Athletics Director Julie Davis says of Felske, "Pete has done so much for Wheaton women's soccer and Wheaton Athletics in his career here. He built the women's soccer program taking it form a club sport to a perennial national contender. His record, the wins and losses are obvious, but he's also a been a faithful recruiter and highly committed to overseas sport ministry trips, which the team takes regularly. I am grateful for his years of faithful service, and he will be missed."
  Wheaton won 48-consecutive matches from September 26, 2006 to September 13, 2008 – a streak that ranks second in NCAA Division III history. Felske's program also has a 29-match win streak (from September 4, 2004 to September 15, 2005), that is the fourth-longest streak in D3 history. His 2007 National Championship squad posted an unblemished 27-0-0 record. The 27 victories posted by that team is the most in NCAA Division III women's soccer history.

Felske compiled a record of 162-13-3 in CCIW matches since the league began sponsoring women's soccer in 1995. His program won its first 42 CCIW matches (1995-2001). Felske's teams have won 21 CCIW Championships, including 13-consecutive conference championships from 1995-2007.

Felske says of the many players he has coached, "I am obviously proud of what they did on the field. But I am just as proud of who they have become off the field. Those women represented Wheaton well, and have represented Jesus well."

Davis says of the upcoming campaign for the Thunder, "With the 2021 season quickly approaching, long-time assistant coach Cesar Gomez will serve as the interim head coach effective June 21, alongside assistant coach Sarah Guidera. A search for a permanent women's soccer head coach will be held following the conclusion of the season."