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MARQUETTE — Greener pastures await the now former head coach of the women’s soccer team at Northern Michigan University.

After five years in the position, Jon Sandoval has resigned to take the same job at NCAA Division I Loyola University of Chicago, NMU Sports Information announced on Friday.

Sandoval closes his tenure with the Wildcats having a 62-21-15 overall record, including 40-10-13 in the GLIAC, and a remarkable 35-3-7 record at home.

Northern Michigan University women’s soccer team head coach Jon Sandoval is shown in a full suit and tie during a game played at the NMU Soccer Field in Marquette. (Photos courtesy NMU)

In his five years guiding the Northern women’s team, he set program records with his 70.9% winning percentage, 73.8% conference winning percentage and 81.8% single-season winning percentage in 2023.

The past two seasons, including this fall, he has been named GLIAC Coach of the Year, each time his Wildcats winning the conference regular-season and tournament titles and making an NCAA Division II Tournament appearance.

Those are the only league titles of any sort an NMU women’s soccer team has ever won.

“Stepping down as head coach at Northern Michigan University is bittersweet,” Sandoval said in an NMU SI press release announcing the news. “I’ve been so fortunate to coach and build relationships with some of the most remarkable student-athletes in the country. Our success has always been rooted in their hard work, heart and dedication — the players built this program and will continue to do so.

“I will miss them more than anything. I am proud of all that we have accomplished together and I have every confidence that the team will continue to thrive.”

Sandoval also brought the best out of his student-athletes on the pitch and in the classroom, as he coached five All-Americans and six Academic All-Americans and 22 all-region selections.

Sandoval had been an assistant coach for Northern’s men’s soccer team for two seasons before taking the reins of the women’s program in February 2020, just a few weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic took full effect.

He inherited a team that had back-to-back four-win seasons, then wasn’t allowed to coach until the spring of 2021 that represented the 2020 season due to the pandemic. His Wildcats went 8-3-1, including 6-2-1 in the GLIAC, in that abbreviated campaign.

He followed with teams that went 11-8-1, 13-4-5, 16-2-4 and 14-4-4 this past season.

“I would like to wish Jon and his family all the success at Loyola,” NMU athletic director Rick Comley said through NMU SI. “We greatly appreciate everything he has accomplished here at Northern Michigan, leaving the program in an excellent state after back-to-back GLIAC championships, and setting the stage for our new coach to come in and have a great foundation to build on.”

“Northern Michigan University has been so much more than a workplace for me and my family,” Sandoval said in further remarks. “Marquette has become a cherished home, where our son was born, where Nichole and I were married, and where countless memories were made. NMU has given me the opportunity to grow both professionally and personally, and for that, I will be forever grateful.

“The friendships we have formed and the incredible people we have had the privilege to meet during this journey will remain close to our hearts. It is these connections and the supportive community that have made our time here truly special.

“Thank you for the trust and support you have given me throughout my tenure. It has been an honor to serve this program, at NMU, and I look forward to seeing the university and its athletics program continue to grow and succeed.”

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.