Michael Moynihan

Position: Head Coach Experience: First Season

Michael Moynihan arrived at Northwestern in December of 2011, after 19 years with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee women's soccer program, where he led the program to nine NCAA Tournament appearances, 13 Horizon League Championships and eight Horizon League Tournament titles. Moynihan, an eight-time Horizon League Coach of the Year, coached the Panthers to the last 12-straight conference titles, a streak that is the second-longest of its kind, trailing only Penn State's 14-straight Big Ten titles.

"We are very excited to welcome Michael, his wife, Holly, and their son, Gabriel, to the Northwestern family," Northwestern Director of Athletics and Recreation Jim Phillips said following his hire. "Michael has had tremendous success building the Milwaukee women's soccer program into one of the best in the country and I am excited about the future of Northwestern women's soccer under his leadership. Michael's commitment to service also makes him a perfect fit for our program."

During his first season with the Wildcats, Moynihan guided the program to a five-win improvement from the previous year, including a three-match Big Ten winning streak to close the season. The Wildcats only allowed one goal in the final three games, which came off a penalty kick, as they won three-consecutive Big Ten contests for the first time since 1998. He reached the 200-win milestone in Northwestern's 2012 finale, a 1-0 shutout of Michigan State in East Lansing.

In 15 years as the head coach at Milwaukee, Moynihan accumulated a 193-84-38 record, including an 86-8-5 (.894) mark in Horizon League games. In 2011, Moynihan's Panthers won a school-record 19 matches, including a perfect 8-0-0 record in conference action, and advanced to the NCAA Tournament second round. Led by nine all-conference honorees, including the Horizon League Player of the Year, Defensive Co-Player of the Year and an NSCAA All-American, the Panthers finished the season ranked No. 23 by the National Soccer Coaches Association of American (NSCAA) with a final RPI of No. 25.

The Milwaukee, Wis., native's coaching career began with the Panthers in 1993 when he served as an assistant coach under his sister, Susan. He helped guide the Panthers in that capacity to a 40-33-4 mark in four seasons, laying the groundwork for when he would take over the program in 1997. Michael also played an instrumental role in fundraising efforts to have the Panthers' home field, the Laura Moynihan Field, named after his mother who also coached the UWM women's soccer program.

An active member of the Milwaukee community, Moynihan served on the board of directors for the Shorewood Kickers and was the director of coaching for the Wisconsin Girls Olympic Development Program. At UWM, his teams regularly hosted soccer camps and clinics throughout the area.

Moynihan played collegiately at Wisconsin, graduating in 1990 with a degree in history. While at Wisconsin, Moynihan was a four-year letterwinner, served two years as team captain and received the team's Bill Reddan Award for Sportsmanship as a senior. He also earned a teaching certificate in secondary education from UWM in 1993.

Moynihan holds a USSF `A' coaching license as well as a USSF national youth license. He has been heavily involved in the Olympic Development Program for the past 20 years, coaching at the national, regional and state levels and has served as head coach for the `93 Wisconsin state team and as an assistant with the `95 regional team.

Moynihan Year-by-Year Head Coaching History

13 Horizon League Regular Season Champions
1997 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004
2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011

8 Horizon League Tournament Champions
1997 • 2001 • 2002 • 2005 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011