Coach Spirk

Head Coach: Steve Spirk

Steve Spirk first made a name for himself at Wilmington College as a high-scoring soccer player back in the late 1970s. Now the coach of the women's soccer team at the College, Spirk has molded the Lady Quakers into one of the nation's most respected Division III programs.

Because of his accomplishments as a player and coach, Spirk has played a major role in p utting WC soccer on the National map.

As a forward during his college career at Wilmington (1977-80), Spirk set virtually every scoring record in school history, including career points (191), career goals (74) and career assists (43).

Those types of numbers allowed him to become a four-time NAIA All-American while leading WC to a 52-15-4 (.739) record during his career.

What may be most impressive about Spirk's records is that 20 years later, they still stand as the school's top marks. He also is one of only two Quaker soccer players to have his jersey retired.

In November of 1996 at the men's soccer National Championships Banquet in Birmingham, Ala., Spirk was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame, which is the highest honor given by that association.

His success in the coaching ranks is just as impressive. In 1992, Spirk inherited a club that had just posted its second straight losing season. But his tireless dedication and simple will to succeed would produce an almost unbelievable turnaround.

Since then, Spirk has guided the Lady Quakers to an overall record of 181-65-11 (.726), including a school-best 19-3 record in 1994 and a trip to the NCAA Division III national tournament.

He's followed that up by leading WC to the 1996 NCAA tournament, the 1997 NCAA tournament, and to the 2000, 2002 and 2003 NCAA tournament, where he led the Lady Quakers to the "Sweet 16" round.

In 2003, Spirk's squad put together a 18-4-1 record, the 11th straight season the Lady Quakers turned in a winning record.

Spirk's efforts have resulted in a trophy case full of hardware. He was the 1993 and '94 AMC and Coach of the Year. He has also put a virtual stranglehold on the state's top coaching honor having been named the Ohio Coach of the Year in 1993, '94 and '96, while also being named HCAC coach of the year in 1999 and OAC coach of the year in 2001 and 2003.

He was a finalist for National Coach of the Year honors after being named Mideast Region Coach of the Year in 1994 and '96.

"I've dedicated my life to the game," Spirk said. "As a player I always gave it 110 percent and I always went on the field with the attitude my team was going to win and that I wanted to score goals. Now, as a coach, my goal is to win games."

Spirk hails from Dayton where he was a three-time All-Ohio performer at Northmont High School ('77).

His collegiate achievements were once again recognized in 1992 when he was inducted into the WC Athletic Hall of Fame.

Spirk began his coaching career at Milton Union High School where he started the boys program in 1983. After two seasons at Milton Union, Spirk returned to Wilmington as an assistant for the Lady Quakers during the 1986 and '87 seasons. Then in 1988, he moved to the men's program where he spent four years as an assistant under Bud Lewis.

In 1993, Spirk received his national coaching license from the National Soccer Collegiate Athletic Association.

Spirk, who is also WC's director of athletic development, resides in Wilmington with his wife, Kathi, and their three children, Jacob, Benny and Sam.