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First an email, and then a couple phone calls asking me if I knew what was up with the St. Xavier women's soccer program.
St. Xavier athletic director Bob Hallberg has confirmed Derek Begich will not return as women's soccer coach. The Cougars fell to Lee University in the quarterfinals of the NAIA Women's Soccer National Tournament on Saturday in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Begich's office has been cleaned out, and Hallberg is addressing the players at 3 p.m. today.
"I've been through this so many times when a coach leaves," Hallberg said. "Derek did an outstanding job with this program, and we are very proud of where it stands. I think right now, Derek is looking to further his coaching career."
St. Xavier http://www.sxu.edu/athletics/wsoc/roster.asp, which is loaded with talent from throughout the Chicagoland area, ended its season with a record of 19-4-2. The NAIA quarterfinals berth marked the best postseason finish in the 11-year history of the program. Begich compiled a 109-53-13 (.660) record in eight seasons.
According to a reliable source, the players were told to "check the board after break, and there will be info on it about our next meeting."
The players came in to look, and the office was empty.
Prior to moving to St. Xavier, Begich was an assistant soccer coach at Stagg for three years. He also coached the girls varsity program at Bolingbrook for one year.
Begich is a 1996 graduate of Olivet Nazarene University, where he was a two-time all-conference and all-district player and was a National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) All-American in 1995. The Chicago Magic product holds the program's all-time assists record.
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