July 14, 2008
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Ken Nuber, a 14-year coaching veteran, has been named an assistant coach with the University of Notre Dame women’s soccer program, it was announced Monday by head coach Randy Waldrum. Nuber (pronounced NEW-burr) has spent the past 13 seasons as the head women’s soccer coach at NAIA member University of Saint Francis in Fort Wayne, Ind.
“I’ve known Ken for nine years, I’ve seen firsthand his work with the Saint Francis program, and I believe he is an up-and-coming coach with a bright future in our profession,” Waldrum said. “His teams are well-disciplined, organized, and try to play the game in a way that fits our Notre Dame style. He is top class in his character and will bring a wealth of head coaching experience to our staff. I’m extremely excited to have him on board, and look to have continued success in every aspect of our program.”
“It’s such a tremendous honor and a privilege to be joining the women’s soccer staff at Notre Dame,” Nuber said. “Notre Dame is one of the top two all-time programs in the history of women’s soccer, and to have the opportunity to move up and coach at the Division I level with a program and a coaching staff of that caliber is really a dream come true.”
Nuber founded the Saint Francis women’s soccer program in 1995 and amassed a 170-96-14 (.632) record with the Cougars, piloting them to six Mid-Central Conference (MCC) titles and eight NAIA regional tournament berths, including regional finals appearances in 2002 and 2007. He also coached four NAIA All-Americans and 27 NAIA honorable mention All-Americans, as well as five regional players of the year during his tenure. What’s more, his 170 victories rank seventh on the NAIA all-time wins list.
A three-time MCC Coach of the Year and two-time regional coach of the year, Nuber worked hard to maintain a standard of excellence on and off the field at Saint Francis. His players won 34 NAIA Scholar-Athlete All-America honors in his 13 seasons, and the Cougars earned 10 consecutive National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Team Academic Awards, with their 3.61 team grade-point average (GPA) in 2007 ranking fourth among collegiate programs at all levels of competition. In addition, Saint Francis was chosen to receive the 2007 NAIA Program of Character Award given for achievement in five categories: sportsmanship, respect, responsibility, servant leadership and integrity.
Nuber is one of the most respected coaches in the NAIA fraternity, having spent eight years on the NSCAA/NAIA Women’s Coaches Association Executive Council, including the past two years as president. He also served seven years as chair of the NAIA All-America Committee, five years at the chair of the NAIA National Championship Selection Committee, four years as chair of the NAIA Scholar-Athlete All-America Selection Committee and three years as chair of the NSCAA/NAIA Coach of the Year Selection Committee.
Nuber is not entirely unfamiliar with the Notre Dame women’s soccer program, having worked as a staff coach for the Irish soccer camps since 2000. He also was an assistant coach with the Fort Wayne Fever of the United Soccer League’s W-League in 2004, helping the Fever to an 11-3-1 record in their inaugural season and a second-place finish in the Midwest Division.
Nuber was involved with the University of Saint Francis athletics community for nearly two decades, beginning with his enrollment at the university and participation with the men’s soccer program from 1989-92. He ranks second in school history for career goals (43) and points (100), and is among the school’s all-time leaders in several other statistical categories.
In 1994, Nuber returned to his alma mater when he was tapped to lead the Cougar men’s soccer program, compiling a 32-60-2 (.351) mark during five seasons at the helm. All told, he posted a combined record of 202-156-16 (.561) in 14 seasons coaching the men and women at Saint Francis.
Nuber also spent time as the head coach of the Saint Francis softball program from 2000-03, registering a 75-74 (.503) record and standing as the school’s leader in career victories. One of the true legends in Cougar athletics history, he was inducted into the Saint Francis Athletics Hall of Fame in 2005.
Born Oct. 3, 1970, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Nuber graduated from Saint Francis in 1993 with a bachelor of arts degree in communications and an area of concentration in business. He also has received a pair of coaching certifications from the NSCAA, having earned his national diploma in 1997 and his advanced national diploma in 1999.
He and his wife, Gina, are the proud parents of two children — daughter Mya (3) and son Jayden (2).
— ND —