60-21-15 record in five seasons with Wildcats
MARQUETTE, Mich. –Jon Sandoval has stepped down as head coach of the Northern Michigan women’s soccer program after five seasons, and has accepted the head coach position at Division I Loyola University Chicago, announced on Friday.
“Stepping down as head coach at Northern Michigan University is bittersweet,” said Sandoval. “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.
“Northern Michigan University has been so much more than a workplace for me and my family. 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.”
In five seasons at Northern Michigan, Sandoval set program records in overall winning percentage (70.3%), conference winning percentage (73.8%), and single-season winning percentage (81.8%, 2023).
Sandoval is a two-time GLIAC Coach of the Year recipient, with each of those coming in seasons where he led the Wildcats to a GLIAC regular season title, a conference tournament title, and an NCAA Tournament appearance. The regular season and postseason conference championships under Sandoval in 2023 and 2024 were the first in program history.
“I would like to wish Jon and his family all the success at Loyola,” said Athletic Director Rick Comley. “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.”
Sandoval brought the best out of his student-athletes both on the field and in the classroom, as he coached five All-Americans and six Academic All-Americans, 22 All-Region selections, and seven All-Conference Players of the Year.
Sandoval closes his tenure as a Wildcats with a 60-21-15 overall record, a 40-10-13 conference record, and a remarkable 35-3-7 record at home.
Thank you for all of the dedication and hard work you have put into this program, and we wish you the best of luck at Loyola!
