A Legacy on the Pitch: The History of Michigan State University Soccer

Michigan State University boasts a rich soccer history, with both men's and women's programs contributing significantly to the university's athletic legacy. From the early days of club teams to national championships and NCAA tournament appearances, Spartan soccer has a tradition of excellence and growth.

Men's Soccer: A Tradition of Excellence

The Michigan State Spartans men's soccer team has been a force in NCAA Division I soccer and the Big Ten Conference since its inception as a varsity sport in 1956. The program's inaugural game saw the Spartans defeat their arch-rival, Michigan, 3-1 at Old College Field in East Lansing.

Early Success and a National Championship

The Spartans quickly established themselves as a national contender, reaching the NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament finals in 1964 and 1965. However, they were defeated by Navy (1-0) and Saint Louis (1-0) respectively. The pinnacle of the program's success came in 1967. Behind the stellar play of two-time All-American Trevor Harris, along with fellow Jamaicans and All-Americans Payton Fuller and Tony Keyes, Michigan State clinched a co-national championship. The championship game against Saint Louis was tied 0-0 and called due to weather, crowning the Spartans as co-champions after an impressive 12-0-1 season.

Post-Championship Era and Tournament Drought

Despite maintaining winning seasons in all but seven seasons over 31 years after Coach Kenney moved into athletic administration in 1970, Michigan State faced a lengthy absence from the NCAA tournament. It wasn't until 2001 that the Spartans returned to the national stage, losing to Big Ten Conference rival Indiana 1-0 in the second round after defeating Butler 2-1 in their first tournament match since 1969. The team has made twenty appearances in the NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament with the most recent coming in 2018.

Individual Accolades and Coaching Legacy

Several Spartan men's soccer players have been recognized for their academic and athletic achievements. Doug DeMartin (2008) and Ryan Keener (2014) were honored as Academic All-Americans. The program has also benefited from strong coaching leadership. Former Spartan goalie Joe Baum, a member of the 1967 and 1968 national title teams, returned to coach the team for over 30 years. He earned Big Ten Coach of the Year honors in 1996, 2000, and 2008. Following Baum's retirement after the 2008 season, former player and assistant coach Damon Rensing took over the reins.

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Spartans in the National Spotlight

The United States National Team has included a number of Spartans, including Nick Krat (10 caps) who, in 1968, became the first Michigan State alumnus to suit up for the United States.

Women's Soccer: Building a Program from the Ground Up

The Michigan State Spartans women's soccer team has a history rooted in student initiative and determination. From its humble beginnings as a club team to becoming a varsity program and NCAA tournament contender, the women's team has carved its own path in the university's soccer landscape.

The Genesis of Women's Soccer at MSU

Women's soccer at Michigan State began in the fall semester of 1978. Freshmen Nancy Hanna and Jody Peebles formed a women's team in the men's intramural soccer league with some friends. Despite winning only a single game, they proved competitive and demonstrated the demand for women's soccer. The following semester, Hanna collaborated with men's varsity soccer coach Joe Baum to establish a women's club soccer team. They gathered 53 students to form two teams: a recreational squad and a competitive club team with an eight-game schedule against other local women's club soccer teams.

Early Success as a Club Team

With Hanna as their goalkeeper and co-captain, the women's team achieved early success. They won their very first game against the University of Michigan women's club team, 4-1 on April 22, 1979. In 1982, the team received an invitation to the NCAA women's soccer championships, but was ineligible since they did not have varsity status.

The Fight for Varsity Status

Over the next few years, students including Annie Kurz and Julie Stachecki campaigned for elevating the team to varsity status. Despite their continued success on the field, the university was reluctant to do so, imposing new conditions and repeatedly rejecting the idea.

Varsity Era and Big Ten Competition

The varsity team debuted on September 11, 1986, with a 5-0 home win over Kalamazoo. Tom Saxton was promoted to head coach in 1991, with Joe Baum continuing to coach the men's soccer team. Saxton coached the team for the next 30 years; his tenure included the program's first NCAA tournament appearance, but was also marked by struggles in conference play.

In 1994, the Big Ten conference began sponsoring women's soccer, with Michigan State finishing first in the regular season before falling to Minnesota in the inaugural Big Ten women's soccer tournament. The following seasons saw a reversal of the team's fortunes as they experienced their first losing season, as well as multiple seasons without any conference wins.

Return to Form and NCAA Tournament Appearances

The 2000s saw a return to form, as the team once again turned in consecutive winning seasons, and made their first trip to the NCAA tournament in 2002, the first of four trips under Saxton. 2005 was the most successful season in nearly a decade, with a third place finish in the Big Ten followed by the program's first NCAA tournament win.

A New Era

In 2021, Jeff Hosler was named the new head women's soccer coach, ushering in a new era for the program.

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