Rudy retires after 28 years in women's soccer

• by Soccer America , Jun 17, 2009

Jim Rudy, one of the pioneers in women's college soccer, has announced his retirement after 21 seasons as the University of Massachusetts women's soccer head coach. He produced three final four teams in 28 years at UCF and UMass and finishes with a 313-160-28 lifetime women's coaching record.

"I've had a good run here at UMass and am very grateful for the opportunity," said Rudy. "We've had some great players, fans and seasons here, but most importantly the women's soccer program has produced many excellent graduates over the past 21 years. For me, a coach's graduates are the most critical litmus test of the program's success and we've graduated nearly all of them."

Rudy directed his teams into NCAA postseason play 13 times, four at UCF and nine at UMass.

He holds the distinct honor of being the only coach in the women's collegiate ranks to guide two different schools to the national semifinals.

Rudy directed UCF to the inaugural NCAA championship game in 1982 and to the semifinals in 1987. He then guided Massachusetts to the national semifinals in 1993, falling to eventual champion North Carolina, 4-1.