Julianne Sitch

Julianne Marie Sitch (born September 18, 1983) is an American former professional soccer defender. She is currently head coach of the University of Denver women's soccer team. She was currently a coach for the Chicago Red Stars and head coach of the University of Chicago men's soccer team.[2] In 2022, she became the first woman in NCAA history to lead a men's team to a national championship.[3]

Julianne Sitch
Sitch playing for the Chicago Red Stars in June 2013
Personal information
Full name Julianne Marie Sitch[1]
Date of birth (1983-09-18) September 18, 1983
Place of birth Oswego, Illinois, United States
Height 5 ft 3 in (1.60 m)
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Chicago Red Stars
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2005 DePaul Blue Demons
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2004 Chicago Cobras 29 (10)
2005 Hampton Roads Piranhas 12 (4)
2006 Bälinge IF
2007 Chicago Gaels 11 (7)
2007–2008 F.C. Indiana 14 (10)
2009 Sky Blue FC 16 (1)
2009 Melbourne Victory 8 (1)
2010 Chicago Red Stars (WPS) 13 (0)
2011 Western New York Flash 0 (0)
2011 Atlanta Beat 2 (0)
2012 Chicago Red Stars (WPSLE)
2012 Hammarby IF 8 (1)
2013–2014 Chicago Red Stars (NWSL) 31 (1)
International career
United States U-19
United States U-21
Managerial career
2015–2017 Chicago Maroons (assistant)
2018 UIC Flames (assistant)
2020–2022 Chicago Red Stars (assistant)
2020–2022 Chicago Red Stars Reserves
2022– Chicago Maroons (men)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early life

Born and raised in Oswego, Illinois, Sitch attended Oswego High School and played for the Region II Olympic Development Program.[4]

DePaul University

Sitch attended DePaul University where she set career records in goals, assists, and points. In 2005, she ended her DePaul career as the program's all-time leading scorer with 32 goals and 26 assists.[5][6]

Club career

Melbourne Victory

In 2009, Sitch signed with the Melbourne Victory FC in Australia's W-League. She was voted team MVP.[7][8]

Sky Blue FC

In 2009, Sitch played for Sky Blue FC during the inaugural season of the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS). She started 11 of 16 regular season games and scored one goal on June 28 during a match against the Saint Louis Athletica.[9]

Chicago Red Stars (WPS)

Sitch signed with her hometown team, the Chicago Red Stars, for the 2010 WPS season. Of her signing, she was quoted, "I am very happy to be coming home to Chicago to continue my playing career. I've always dreamt about playing in my hometown, where all of my family and friends—who have supported me throughout my career—can come and watch. I love Chicago. I love Toyota Park and the energy it brings to the game. I couldn't be more happy."[10] Sitch made 13 appearances for the Red Stars logging a total of 358 minutes.[11]

Atlanta Beat

After the Chicago Red Stars ceased operations in the WPS and Sitch was briefly picked up by the Western New York Flash, Sitch signed with the Atlanta Beat of the WPS for the 2011 season.[12][13][14] She made two appearances for the club, totaling 118 minutes.[11]

Chicago Red Stars (WPSL Elite)

Sitch played for the Chicago Red Stars in the Women's Premier Soccer League Elite (WPSL-Elite) during the summer of 2012.[15]

Hammarby IF

In 2012, Sitch spent a season with Hammarby IF and roomed with her Red Stars teammate, Lori Chalupny. She scored one goal and captained her team to promotion to the Damallsvenskan that season.[16]

Chicago Red Stars (NWSL)

In 2013, Sitch returned to the Red Stars for the inaugural season of the National Women's Soccer League.[17] She was waived by the Red Stars on July 31, 2014.[18] She officially announced her retirement as an active player on April 9, 2015.[19]

International career

Sitch was a member of the United States U-21 women's national soccer team that won the Nordic Cup in 2004.[20]

Coaching career

Sitch served as an assistant coach for the Chicago Maroons women's soccer team at the University of Chicago from 2015 to 2017.[21][22] She was an assistant coach for the UIC Flames from 2018 to 2019[23] before rejoining the Maroons women's soccer team as lead assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the fall 2019 season.[24]

In February 2020, Sitch returned to the Chicago Red Stars organization to serve as an assistant first-team coach and also as manager for the club's reserve team in the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL).[25] The Red Stars Reserves won the 2021 Great Lakes Conference championship with a 7–1–2.[26]

On April 20, 2022, Sitch was named the head coach of the Chicago Maroons men's soccer team.[2][27] Sitch led the Maroons to an undefeated 22–0–1 record and its first national championship, the first won by a men's soccer team with a woman as head coach in any NCAA division.[3] The team's only draw was against the NYU Violets led by Kim Wyant, which was reportedly also the first match between two NCAA men's soccer teams led by women head coaches. Wyant had been hired first, and Sitch called Wyant for advice before seeking the Maroons head coaching role.[27][3]

On June 7, 2023, it was announced that Sitch would leave the University of Chicago to coach the Denver Pioneers of the University of Denver.

References
  1. "New Hires – Reporting to the Board on September 27, 2018: Chicago – Division of Intercollegiate Athletics" (PDF). Secretary's Report: Appointments and Changes Made by the President. University of Illinois System. September 27, 2018. p. 30. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 10, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  2. "University of Chicago's new hire brings more female coaching visibility to NCAA men's soccer". Medill Reports Chicago. May 20, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  3. Kuwana, Claire (March 29, 2023). "How One Coach, Her 'Championship Mindset' and an NCAA Men's Soccer Program Made History". Sports Illustrated.
  4. "Junior star Sitch helps put Oswego on the map". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  5. "Julianne Sitch Earns First Team All-Region Soccer Buzz Honors". DePaul Official Athletic Site. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  6. "Former All-American Julianne Sitch Picked in WPS Draft". DePaul Official Athletic Site. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  7. "Interview with Julianne Sitch". The Women's Game. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  8. "Oswego standout Sitch is on the ball Midfielder has led Panthers to 15–4–2 record this season". Chicago Sun Times. Archived from the original on September 21, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  9. "Remembering '99: Julianne Sitch". United States Soccer Federation. Archived from the original on April 24, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  10. "WPS Chicago Red Stars Sign Hometown Girl, Julianne Sitch, From Sky Blue FC". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  11. "Julianne Sitch". Soccer Way. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  12. "Beat continue shakeup with two-player deal". Marietta Daily Journal. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  13. "Oswego native Sitch traded to Atlanta Beat". The Beacon-News. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  14. "Atlanta Beat acquire Parker, Sitch". Equalizer Soccer. May 27, 2011. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  15. "Women's Soccer News: Chicago Red Stars Sign WPS Veterans Buczkowski and Sitch". Soccer Nation. Archived from the original on August 4, 2012. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  16. "Chalupny and Sitch Check-In From Sweden". Chicago Red Stars. Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  17. "Chicago Red Stars announce preseason roster". NWSL News. Archived from the original on June 7, 2017. Retrieved June 29, 2013.
  18. "Red Stars Waive Midfielder Julianne Sitch," Chicago Red Stars, Thursday, July 31, 2014. Archived October 1, 2020, at the Wayback Machine Retrieved January 18, 2018
  19. Le Cren, Matt. "Oswego's Julianne Sitch retires after three stints with Red Stars," The Beacon-News (Aurora, IL), Thursday, April 9, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2018
  20. "U.S. Under-21 WNT Win Sixth Straight Nordic Cup With 3–0 Defeat of Sweden". United States Soccer Federation. July 29, 2004. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
  21. "Julianne Sitch hired as UChicago assistant women's soccer coach," University of Chicago Athletics & Recreation, Friday, March 13, 2015. Retrieved January 18, 2018
  22. "Julianne Sitch". The University of Chicago Athletics.
  23. "Julianne Sitch Joins @UICWomensSoccer Staff – UIC Athletics". UIC Athletics. May 15, 2023.
  24. "Julianne Sitch". Chicago Maroons. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  25. Zaremba, T.J. (February 11, 2020). "Chicago Red Stars announce several new coaching hires". HotTimeInOldTown.com. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  26. Costello, Thomas (July 23, 2021). "CHICAGO RED STARS RESERVES WIN THIRD CONSECUTIVE CONFERENCE TITLE" (Press release). Women's Premier Soccer League. Retrieved April 24, 2023.
  27. Waldstein, David (October 26, 2022). "A 'Landmark' as Women Will Coach Against Each Other in Men's Soccer". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
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