After ten seasons as the head coach for the Oregon State University women's soccer program, Steve Fennah has resigned. The departure seems to be a surprise to his players. CHS graduate and returning goalkeeper Ashley Wood stated that his resignation was not expected and that he was not under pressure to resign with one year left on his contract. I wouldn't expect the players to know about that kind of pressure though.

The timing is odd. College soccer coaches typically leave after the fall season. That is before the new players are signed. Fennah had just signed ten new players to OSU for another coach to inherit. Although I believe the NCAA allows for new recruits to get out of their commitments in this type of situation (rightly so). Perhaps he just woke up and wasn't feeling it anymore like Bobby Knight. In ten seasons Fennah's conference record is 17-65-8. That many losses would take a toll on anyone.

Eight year assistant coach, Linus Rhode is a worthwhile candidate. He is familiar with the program and would provide some continuity. Typically if an athletic department does not hire internally for the position they would conduct a national search for a new coach. Bob De Carolis, the director of athletics at OSU has a track record of hiring big names for the school's smaller programs. De Carolis has hired LaVonda Wagner (women's' basketball), Taras Liskevych (volleyball) and Jim Zalesky (wrestling) all of whom where relatively high profile coaches.

The Beavers men's' program is recruiting a new assistant coach after what seems to be the quiet departure of Jim Coffer after two seasons. His coaching profile on the teams web page has gone missing with no clue where he went or why. The job posting is interesting reading if you are curious as to what an assistant soccer coach does.

First year women's assistant coach Kellie Evans is also leaving the program. She had been hired to replace Heidi Slaymaker. Her coaching career is still very young and she has more ties on the east coast.

Things are-a-changin' at OSU and I like it. I don't really care what the changes are so long as we do something differently. Just maybe, the changes will be for the better.