March 8, 2005
Release courtesy of Matt Turk, Simpson College sports information director

INDIANOLA, IOWA . . . Mike Wilson, a 2000 Simpson graduate and former All-Conference and All-Region defender for the Storm, has been named the head men's soccer coach at Simpson College, announced John Sirianni, Simpson's athletic director. His appointment is effective immediately.

Wilson became the first player in the program's history to be named first team All-Conference four times. Entering the 2005 season, Wilson is only one of two players to be selected as a four-time first team All-Conference selection in the history of the IIAC. Wilson earned second team All-NSCAA Central Region honors as a senior and was named team MVP.

Wilson, a Des Moines, Iowa native, comes to Simpson from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn. where he served as an assistant men's soccer coach for the past two seasons. The Gusties compiled an overall record of 34-3-8, made two consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, claimed one MIAC regular season conference title and won two consecutive MIAC tournament titles. In 2004, the team advanced to the final eight of the national tournament, led Division III in team goals against average (0.175) and team shutout percentage (0.87) and ended the season ranked sixth in the nation by the NSCAA. Wilson also served as the head junior varsity coach and as a graduate assistant in the sports information information office.

Wilson began his coaching career in 1999 at West Des Moines Valley High School as the boys' freshman head coach and assistant varsity coach. In 2000, he moved to Indianola High School where he served as the boys and girls' assistant varsity and head boys junior varsity coach. From 2000-2002, Wilson was the boys' junior varsity coach at Mounds Park Academy in St. Paul, Minn.

Wilson received his NSCAA National Diploma in 2004 and his USSF "D" License in 2002. He is scheduled to receive his master's degree in sport management from Minnesota State Univ.-Mankato in May 2005. Wilson is married to the former Susan Peterson who is a 2001 graduate from Simpson
and was a student athletic trainer for the Storm.

"I am truly honored to be named the head coach at Simpson College and feel
fortunate to be involved with a program that has such a strong tradition," Wilson said. "My experiences as a student and athlete at Simpson are very special to me and I look forward to providing those same experiences to current and future Simpson soccer players. We have a talented group of players returning and I am anxious to start working with them and look forward to begin recruiting players that will allow us to have the depth to compete for championships. I look forward to working with student-athletes at a place like Simpson where you can receive a quality education and compete at a very high level all at the same time."

"We are extremely pleased to have Mike return to Simpson," Sirianni commented. "After graduation, he coached on the high school level and later moved to Gustavus where he gained valuable experience as a coach, recruiter, and administrator. Mike was an outstanding student-athlete for us and we expect him to carry on the tradition of Simpson soccer."

Wilson replaces Aziz Haffar who resigned after10 seasons and a 127-66-20 record.

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