Wheaton, Ill. -- Wheaton women's soccer head coach Patrick Gilliam has named Rachel Feldpausch as the new full-time assistant coach for the program. She will officially begin her work at Wheaton College on Monday, July 13. Feldpausch fills the role left by the departing Jeanne Nielson, who served as the assistant women's soccer coach from 2023 until the start of this month. 

Speaking on this transition between full-time assistant coaches, Gilliam states, "First, I want to express my deep appreciation and gratitude to Jeanne for all that she has given and provided to our program for the last 3+ years. The list of her contributions would be incredibly long; and our players have certainly witnessed first-hand her deep love and commitment to Wheaton and Thunder Women's Soccer."

Gilliam then says of Feldpausch, "I am extremely excited about Rachel joining our coaching staff. In addition to her deep love for the Lord and passionate commitment to discipleship, she brings a very unique blend of leadership experience, having served as an athletic administrator, head coach of her own program, and assistant coach. I look forward to working alongside her and anticipate her contributing greatly to our program."

A Midwest native who has spent most of her life in Virginia and North Carolina, Feldpausch comes to Wheaton from Bradford Preparatory School in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she served as the head coach of the varsity girls soccer team this spring following her promotion from the role of assistant coach. Prior to her time at Bradford, Feldpausch was the assistant athletic director and head of the girls soccer program at Blue Ridge Christian School in Dayton, Virginia between 2018 and 2024 and later worked as the athletic director at Covenant Classical School in Concord, North Carolina. 

Feldpausch has worked as an assistant coach and ministry director for the Charlotte Eagles U-23 USL Academy Team in recent summers and also served as a Fellowship of Christian Athletes area representative in Charlotte. She attended James Madison University from 2015-2018 before transferring to Grand Canyon University and earned her bachelor's degree in applied management in May 2019. She holds a grassroots license from US Soccer and also has coaching experience in girls basketball, cross country, and volleyball.

Remarking on her new position and the opportunity it presents, Feldpausch states, "I'm eager to get to be a part of a storied program and institution in Wheaton College. It's a blessing and a gift to work alongside coaches and players that keep first things first, and pursue excellence in our craft from a perspective and heart posture to enjoy God and glorify Him. I'm grateful to God for the opportunity to engage and wrestle with the truth with other brothers and sisters on campus at Wheaton while we play and enjoy the beautiful game. Go Thunder!"