Canisius head women's soccer coach Jim Wendling announced today that he will step down at the end of the 2014 season.

“I have truly enjoyed my seven years at Canisius College and I want to thank all of the young ladies I have had the opportunity to coach here,” Wendling said. “I feel this is the right time for me to return to Ohio to be closer to my wife, my family and my two grandchildren.”

The 2008 Anaconda Sports MAAC Women's Soccer Coach of the Year, Wendling is the only coach in program history to lead the Golden Griffins to three-straight MAAC Tournament appearances (2008-10). In his first year as the team's bench boss, Wendling guided the Griffs to 11 wins and a 6-3-0 mark in league play, which allowed the team to qualify for the conference's postseason tournament for the first time since 1994. After recording 13 wins and earning a berth into the MAAC Tournament in 2009, Wendling led the Blue and Gold to a school-record 14 victories in 2010, which included the first MAAC regular-season championship in program history after the team recorded seven wins over MAAC foes. The 2010 season also saw the Blue and Gold earn an appearance in the MAAC Championship game, where the team lost to Siena in overtime.

Wendling's teams were also successful off the field, as a total of 38 players have earned MAAC All-Academic honors since 2008. Additionally, the women's soccer program at Canisius has received six-straight National Soccer Coaches Association of American Team Academic Awards.  

“I want to thank Jim for all he has done for our women's soccer program here at Canisius,” Director of Athletics Bill Maher said. “Jim has a tremendous understanding and passion for the game of soccer and he has been an outstanding representative of our athletic department. I wish him nothing but the best as he returns back to Ohio to spend more time with his family.”