January 16, 2007
Release courtesy of Nick Huber, Buena Vista sports information director

STORM LAKE, IOWA . . . Buena Vista University athletics director Jan Travis announced today that Hunter Balmer has been appointed as the University's head women's soccer coach. Balmer has been the men's and women's top assistant coach each of the past two seasons. Matt Klosterman, who had served as the head men's and women's coach for the past five years, will continue serving as the head men's soccer coach.

"This reorganization has been in our long range plans for five years," said Travis. "We believe that this organizational shift will greatly benefit our student athletes in both programs."

During Balmer's first season at Buena Vista in 2005, the women's team set school records for the most wins, goals, points, and assists in a single season. As the goalkeeper coach for both teams, he coached former all-conference men's goalkeeper Daniel Padilla.

"The future for Buena Vista women's soccer looks very bright," said Balmer. "The fact that our current players and incoming recruits know me already should help make this a smooth transition. We have a talented, hard-working group of players returning who are extremely committed to advancing our program."

Balmer holds his National Coaching Diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. He has coached high school, club, and Olympic Development Program (ODP) soccer teams of both genders and varied ages. Most notably, he served as head goalkeeping coach for the Western District of Virginia ODP.

"While I already had a solid background coaching women's soccer, certainly the two seasons I have coached at Buena Vista have best prepared me for this challenge," Balmer commented. "Coach Klosterman has been a tremendous mentor and has taught me so much, and I am a much better coach since working with him."

"Buena Vista is fortunate to have two knowledgeable soccer coaches on staff who have coached together for the past two years," stated Travis. "Both will now have the opportunity to focus on one team."

Balmer, who originally hails from Harrisonburg, Virginia, earned his undergraduate from Roanoke College. He holds a master's degree in Parks, Recreation, and Sports Leadership with an emphasis on Coaching and Sports Leadership from Virginia Commonwealth University.

"I certainly would like to thank everyone at BVU who gave me the opportunity to come to this wonderful school and begin my college coaching career," said Balmer. "From Coach Klosterman to everyone in the administration, BVU has been extremely supportive and I can't imagine any better environment for a young coach to grow in."

Balmer played in Virginia as a goalkeeper at Roanoke College. While growing up, he played competitively with the Roanoke Valley Soccer Club

"I feel that thanks are in order to my coaches growing up, particularly my club coach Dean Jones. He is my role model as a coach and a constant reminder of the right way to lead."

Balmer becomes the fifth head coach in the history of the program. Klosterman, who will now be able to focus on the men's program, was the all-time winningest head women's soccer coach in school history. Over the course of five seasons, his women's teams went a combined 16-72-4. Klosterman coached more all-conference and academic all-conference selections than any other coach in the program's 10-year history.

"In light of the increasingly competitive demand for Division III student athletes, I believe this is a positive move for the Buena Vista men's and women's soccer programs, now and in the future," Travis concluded.

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