Lake Forest College Sports Information
December 22, 2006
Contact: Mike Wajerski, SID

Derek Niepomnik Named Head Coach of Forester Men’s Soccer Team
Former Benedictine head coach also has experience at club level


Derek Niepomnik
LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Lake Forest College Athletic Director Jackie Slaats announced Friday (December 22) that Derek Niepomnik has accepted the position of Head Men’s Soccer Coach at the College. Niepomnik is just the seventh head coach in the program’s 46-year history and only the third since 1978. Forester men’s soccer boasts an all-time record of 370-188-43 and the team has captured 14 conference championships since 1974.

“I’m excited to have Coach Niepomnik join our staff,” Slaats begins. “He has coaching and recruiting experience at various levels, including three years as head coach at a local NCAA Division III institution. I am confident in his ability to continue the strong tradition of success the program has enjoyed in the last few decades.”

Niepomnik is currently the College Assistance Program Coordinator and Under-23 College Developmental Program Director for the FC Barrington Soccer Club. He implemented the under-23 program and served as its head men’s coach and assistant women’s coach. He has also been the head coach for high school aged teams since 2005.

Prior to joining the staff at the FC Barrington Soccer Club, Niepomnik was the head men’s soccer coach at Benedictine University for three years, beginning in 2002. He earned Northern Illinois Iowa Coach of the Year honors in 2002. He was also an assistant men’s coach at Northern Illinois University in 2001 and at St. Bonaventure University in 2000. In addition, he was the assistant women’s coach at Northern Illinois University in 1996 and 1997 and at the University of Cincinnati the following year.

Niepomnik played four years at NCAA Division I Northern Illinois University and graduated from the school in 1996. He was then a three-year starter at defender and midfielder for the Rockford Raptors of the United States Interregional Soccer League (USISL – D3 Pro).

“Soccer has been an important part of my life since I was a child, starting at age two” begins Niepomnik. “This is a great opportunity for me to work with collegiate players once again and help them excel in the game I love. I look forward to being a part of such a solid academic institution with a strong soccer tradition and a beautiful campus setting.”