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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Matt Fannon Named BGSU Women's Soccer Coach
December 26, 2016 | Women's Soccer
Bowling Green, Ohio – Bowling Green State University Director of Athletics Bob Moosbrugger has named Matt Fannon as the fifth head coach in the history of the BGSU women's soccer program. Fannon comes from Wittenberg University, where he compiled a 40-26-10 record in four seasons as head coach of the women's soccer program.
"This is a really special day for my family and me," Fannon said. "Bowling Green is a fantastic institution with a great reputation and I am privileged to have been given this opportunity. I am excited about the potential of BGSU women's soccer."
While at Wittenberg, Fannon's teams went 21-8-3 in North Coast Athletic Conference play. Most recently, the team went 13-5-2 overall in 2016 and 7-1 in the NCAC, advancing to the tournament championship and the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Tigers lost just one game by more than one goal and Fannon earned NCAC Coach of the Year honors for his efforts. He was also named the Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association (OCSA) Women's Division III Coach of the Year.
His teams at Wittenberg twice won the NCAC regular season championship, advancing at least to the NCAC Tournament semifinals in each of his four seasons. Twice, the Tigers played in the NCAC Championship game.
"I would like to sincerely thank Bob Moosbrugger, Lauren Ashman and the rest of the search committee for giving me the opportunity to lead such a great program," Fannon said. "From my first conversation with Lauren, it was clear that Bowling Green Athletics was a department I wanted to be involved with. The positive atmosphere, hard-working, yet welcoming environment, and student experience-centered ideology go hand-in-hand with my own values.
"I would be remiss to not thank the Wittenberg University family I am leaving behind. Athletics Director Gary Williams is taking the department in an exciting direction and I am certain the Tigers' success will continue to grow."
A native of York, England, Fannon has been the head coach at Wittenberg since April, 2013 after spending a year as an assistant coach at the University of Wyoming. Prior to Wyoming, he was an assistant coach for the men's soccer program at Regis University for two years, helping the Rangers to a combined 27-7-5 record.
Fannon has worked as the Challenger Sports Regional Director for Wyoming, New Mexico, Utah and Mexico, and he also coached the Broomfield Blast high school-aged girls' teams from 2009-12, earning a club Coach of the Year award. He has his NSCAA Premier diploma and earned his Football Association Coaching Certificate in England. He also has a United State Soccer Federation Goalkeeping License.
"We are excited to welcome Matt, his wife Julie and their two daughters to the Bowling Green State University family," Moosbrugger said. "Matt has proven to be a leader and mentor. The student-athlete experience is our top priority and success on the field and in the classroom are important to a well-rounded experience. Our search committee, led by Senior Associate Athletics Director Lauren Ashman, did an excellent job of identifying a coach who can take this program to the next level."
Fannon takes over a program that went 8-10-1 in 2016, marking the third consecutive season in which the team posted an increased win total. In fact, the eight wins were the most for the program since 2008.
A graduate of Davis & Elkins College, Fannon was a first team all-region and first team all-conference player in both of his seasons with the Senators. Prior to Davis & Elkins, he played one season at Dutchess Community College. He received his bachelor's degree in physical education in 2008 and his master's degree in coaching from Ohio University in 2015.
Fannon and his wife Julie, who is an Ohio native, have two daughters, Rowen and Mason.
"This is a really special day for my family and me," Fannon said. "Bowling Green is a fantastic institution with a great reputation and I am privileged to have been given this opportunity. I am excited about the potential of BGSU women's soccer."
While at Wittenberg, Fannon's teams went 21-8-3 in North Coast Athletic Conference play. Most recently, the team went 13-5-2 overall in 2016 and 7-1 in the NCAC, advancing to the tournament championship and the first round of the NCAA Division III Tournament. The Tigers lost just one game by more than one goal and Fannon earned NCAC Coach of the Year honors for his efforts. He was also named the Ohio Collegiate Soccer Association (OCSA) Women's Division III Coach of the Year.
His teams at Wittenberg twice won the NCAC regular season championship, advancing at least to the NCAC Tournament semifinals in each of his four seasons. Twice, the Tigers played in the NCAC Championship game.
"I would like to sincerely thank Bob Moosbrugger, Lauren Ashman and the rest of the search committee for giving me the opportunity to lead such a great program," Fannon said. "From my first conversation with Lauren, it was clear that Bowling Green Athletics was a department I wanted to be involved with. The positive atmosphere, hard-working, yet welcoming environment, and student experience-centered ideology go hand-in-hand with my own values.
"I would be remiss to not thank the Wittenberg University family I am leaving behind. Athletics Director Gary Williams is taking the department in an exciting direction and I am certain the Tigers' success will continue to grow."
A native of York, England, Fannon has been the head coach at Wittenberg since April, 2013 after spending a year as an assistant coach at the University of Wyoming. Prior to Wyoming, he was an assistant coach for the men's soccer program at Regis University for two years, helping the Rangers to a combined 27-7-5 record.
Fannon has worked as the Challenger Sports Regional Director for Wyoming, New Mexico, Utah and Mexico, and he also coached the Broomfield Blast high school-aged girls' teams from 2009-12, earning a club Coach of the Year award. He has his NSCAA Premier diploma and earned his Football Association Coaching Certificate in England. He also has a United State Soccer Federation Goalkeeping License.
"We are excited to welcome Matt, his wife Julie and their two daughters to the Bowling Green State University family," Moosbrugger said. "Matt has proven to be a leader and mentor. The student-athlete experience is our top priority and success on the field and in the classroom are important to a well-rounded experience. Our search committee, led by Senior Associate Athletics Director Lauren Ashman, did an excellent job of identifying a coach who can take this program to the next level."
Fannon takes over a program that went 8-10-1 in 2016, marking the third consecutive season in which the team posted an increased win total. In fact, the eight wins were the most for the program since 2008.
A graduate of Davis & Elkins College, Fannon was a first team all-region and first team all-conference player in both of his seasons with the Senators. Prior to Davis & Elkins, he played one season at Dutchess Community College. He received his bachelor's degree in physical education in 2008 and his master's degree in coaching from Ohio University in 2015.
Fannon and his wife Julie, who is an Ohio native, have two daughters, Rowen and Mason.
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