August 5, 2009
(release courtesy of Steven Phelps, Buena Vista University sports information director)

STORM LAKE, IOWA . . . Buena Vista Director of Athletics Jan Travis has announced the hiring of Marc Baumbach as the University’s new head men’s soccer coach and assistant women’s soccer coach. Marc will arrive on campus and begin his duties on Monday, August 10.

"I am extremely excited to have Marc onboard as our new head men’s soccer coach," Travis says. "He is a very skilled and competitive coach who is familiar with the Iowa Conference. I believe he’s a great fit to help get the team to the next level."

Baumbach has been serving as coach for the St. Croix Valley Soccer Club and the Premier Midwest Regional League for boys in Minnesota - a position he has held since 1999.

"I am very excited to be the next BVU head men's soccer coach," he states. "I am thankful for the opportunity and look forward to the challenges that lie ahead in my first head coaching position. I think BVU is a fantastic place to begin my career, and I am truly grateful to Jan Travis for presenting me with the opportunity."

Baumbach is no stranger to the Iowa Conference, as he served as the top assistant coach for the Luther College men’s and women’s soccer programs from 2001-07. During that span, the Norse women compiled an overall record of 87-43-12 and were the Iowa Conference regular season champions three times, while qualifying for the tournament championship in 2004. On the men’s side, the Norse went 82-57-7, including a trip to the 2002 West Region Semifinals and the 2001 NCAA Tournament quarterfinals. The team was also awarded the IIAC Fair Play Award in each of his last two seasons.

"Having coached in the Iowa Conference, I understand how competitive the conference is and will be," Baumbach adds. "As such, I know what level I will need to get the BVU men's program to in order to be competitive match-in-and-out. My familiarity with the schools and programs in the IIAC will certainly be valuable when transitioning to my new position."

This season, his St. Croix Valley Soccer Club under-17 team tied for first in the Premier Midwest Regional League (Blue Division), finished Runner-up at the Minnesota State Cup and was a semifinalist at the Adidas Showcase in Dallas, Texas. It also finished the season ranked #1 in Minnesota, #5 in Region II, and #16 nationally, according to gotsoccer.com.

Marc has also earned a number of NSCAA Diplomas, including the NSCAA Premier Diploma in 2007, while most recently earning the NSCAA Special Topics Diploma in Functional Training in 2008.

Prior to beginning his coaching duties, he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minn., in 1998.

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