Staten Island, NY – Mike Minielli is stepping down as head women's soccer coach at Wagner College after serving 11 years at the helm of the Seahawk program, athletic director Walt Hameline has announced.

A national search for his successor will begin immediately.

"I'd like to thank Coach Minielli for his leadership and commitment to Wagner athletics and wish him and his family all the best," said Hameline.

After arriving on Grymes Hill in July, 2006, the Indiana native led the Green & White to three out of the program's four winning seasons, highlighted by the 2014 campaign when he guided the Seahawks to their first Northeast Conference (NEC) championship appearance in 17 years, en route to being named NEC Coach of the Year.

That year, Wagner recorded its best-ever NEC record with a mark of 5-1-2, and an overall record of 9-7-2. In his 11-year tenure at Wagner, the Seahawks were 60-127-19 overall, including an NEC record of 28-62-9.

During his tenure at Wagner, Minielli recruited and developed 13 student-athletes who went on to earn All-NEC recognition. In addition, he recruited high achievers in the classroom, 182 of whom were named to the Fall NEC Academic Honor Roll, including three NEC Fall Scholar-Athletes in Megan Fritz (2015), Katie Marcy (2014) and Julie Vigliotti (2011).

"On behalf of my family, I would like to thank Wagner Athletic Director Walt Hameline, Senior Woman's Administrator Peg Hefferan, the athletic staff, and the greater Wagner College community for the opportunity to serve the women's soccer team for the past 11 years," Minielli said. "It has been an honor and a privilege to coach numerous soccer student-athletes and watch them prosper into successful young adults on the field as well in the classroom.
 
"I could not have asked for a better group of academically and athletically talented young ladies," he continued. "Their individual and collective successes are emblematic of what Wagner strives for as an institution of higher learning: scholarship, achievement, leadership, and citizenship. While I am saddened to be leaving, I am excited about my future coaching opportunities as well as the continuation of Wagner's successful women's soccer program."
 
Prior to coming on board at Wagner in 2006, Minielli compiled a record of 182-125-32 in 17 combined seasons at Murray State.and Saint Joseph's College (IN).
 
Prior to coming on board at Wagner in 2006, Minielli spent six seasons (2000-2005) as head coach at Murray State, where he won an average of eight games per year and helped develop 17 all-conference players. He also had 81 student-athletes named to the Ohio Valley Conference Honor Roll, including five who received the OVC Medal of Honor for Academics. In 2000-01, Murray State was rated the #1 First Year Women's Soccer Program by Soccer Buzz Magazine.
 
He began his collegiate coaching career at his alma mater, Saint Joseph's College, where he oversaw both the men's and women's programs. As head coach of the women from 1988-1999, he posted a 135-67-21 mark, earning two NCAA Division II tournament berths, including a 1996 Final Four appearance. In addition, Saint Joseph's earned a national ranking eight times under Minielli.
 
The 1996 Division II Women's National Coach of the Year also administrated the Puma men's program for 11 seasons winning 111 games while supervising numerous all-conference and all-academic student-athletes. Minielli has been honored as a Coach of the Year by various conferences and organizations eight different times during his coaching career.