Marc Baumbach Named Green Bay Men's Soccer Interim Head Coach

GREEN BAY, Wis.– Marc Baumbach has been named the interim head coach for the Green Bay men’s soccer program, Director of Athletics Mary Ellen Gillespie announced on Wednesday. Baumbach takes over for Dan Popik, who resigned after accepting a position as a club director in Raleigh, N.C. A full national search will be conducted at the conclusion of the season.

“We are excited that Marc will be leading our program this 2014 season,” Gillespie said. “His previous head coaching experience will be a valuable asset in providing leadership to our young men and overall management of our program.”

Baumbach joined the Green Bay coaching staff in June after serving as the men’s soccer head coach at Division III Buena Vista University for the past five seasons.

The Beavers made significant strides forward after he took over the reins in 2009 and he leaves having won the second highest number of games in school history.

During his tenure, his teams increased their goal tally every year, recording the fifth highest total in school history during the 2013 season.  His teams also allowed fewer goals in nearly each year of his tenure and in 2011 they recorded the lowest single-season total since 2006. Baumbach coached an Honorable Mention All-IIAC performer each season, multiple IIAC Players of the Week and produced 6 All-IIAC Academic Award winners.  In addition, the Beavers won the IIAC Fair Play Award in 2013 and 2010.

Baumbach arrived at Buena Vista University after serving as a coach for the St. Croix Soccer Club, a position he held since 1999. In 2009, his U17 Premier MRL Team tied for first in the Premier Midwest Regional League (Blue Division), finished Runner-up at the Minnesota State Cup and were semifinalists at the Adidas Showcase in Dallas, Texas. They also finished the season ranked #1 in Minnesota, #5 in Region II, and #16 nationally, according to gotsoccer.com. While with the St. Croix Soccer Club, he placed numerous players at DI, DII and DIII schools.

His college coaching experience also includes serving as the top assistant coach for the Luther College men's and women's soccer programs from 2001-07. During that span, the men's side went 82-57-7, including a trip to the 2002 West Region Semifinals and the 2001 NCAA Tournament Quarterfinals. The team was also awarded the IIAC Fair Play Award in 2006 & 2007.

On the women’s side they had an overall record of 87-43-12 and were the Iowa Conference regular season champions three times, while qualifying for the tournament championship in 2004.

Baumbach has also earned a number of NSCAA Diplomas, most recently the NSCAA Goalkeeping I & II Diploma in 2011 as well as the NSCAA Premier Diploma in 2007.

Prior to beginning his coaching duties, he earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from St. John's University in Collegeville, Minn., in 1998.

**Release courtesy of Green Bay Athletic Communications.