Columbus, Ohio – Ohio Dominican University athletic director Bill Blazer has announced the hiring of Jonathan Meade as the ODU head women's soccer coach. Meade becomes the third head coach of the eight year old women's soccer program.
"We are pleased to welcome Jonathan to the Ohio Dominican family," said Blazer. "Jonathan has proven to be an exceptional coach, teacher and mentor and we are happy to have him join our staff." more
Meade comes to Ohio Dominican from former American Mideast Conference (AMC) rival Mount Vernon Nazarene University, where he spent the last eight seasons.
"My family and I are very excited about joining the ODU family, and beginning a new adventure at such a fine institution," said Meade. "I really look forward to getting in and meeting the players quickly so that we can start building those important relationships that will help guide us throughout the 2009 season."
Meade started the Cougars women's program at his alum mater from its inception in 2000. In his first season, after dropping their first game, the Lady Cougars won 11 consecutive matches before suffering another defeat as the team went 11-8-0. Mount Vernon finished fifth in the AMC with a 7-4-0 conference mark, and qualified for the NCCAA East Region playoffs where they fell in overtime in the semifinals.
Following that first season, Meade continued to build a highly successful program and led the Lady Cougars to a 103-46-5 overall record for an impressive .685 winning percentage. In that time, MVNU won three AMC South Division titles (2003, 2004, and 2006) as well as the program's first two National Christian College Athletic Association national titles in 2003 and 2006.
Prior to heading up the MVNU women's program, Meade served as the varsity assistant coach for the girls' team at Naples Central School in New York during the 1995-1996 school year. In addition, Coach Meade, has traveled with the Athletes in Action women's soccer team to Costa Rica in the summer of 2001 as an assistant coach. Meade also served as the men's assistant at Mount Vernon following his playing days with the Cougars.
"I have always had a great deal of respect for the athletic programs at ODU and especially the women's soccer program as they have been a strong competitor for me in the past," adds Meade. It is a great honor to be given the reigns of such a high quality team."
Meade was a former 4-year letterwinner on the MVNU men's soccer team from 1990-1993. During his playing career, he set a school record playing in 81 matches for the Cougars. He was named to the Mid-Ohio Conference Second Team in 1990, and was a MOC Honorable Mention selection in 1993 when he served as team captain.
Meade is a native of Naples, New York, and a 1995 graduate of MVNU. He earned his national diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association in the summer of 2000 and completed his master's of science in sports coaching from the United States Sports Academy in 2005. Jonathan and his wife, DeAnn, reside in Mount Vernon and are expecting their first child.