Soccer coach Michelle Salmon will leave Ball State University to become the women's soccer coach at the University of Cincinnati, sources close to both teams confirmed Tuesday.
Assistant coach Abby Richter will be the interim head coach until a decision is made about Salmon's replacement, Lindsay Martin, a senior on Ball State's team last season, said. Richter was the Cardinals' assistant coach the past two seasons.
She was responsible for the team's goalkeepers and academics, and she assisted with recruiting.
Martin said she did not know about the future of the head coaching position and that she would help out with the team in the spring. She will stay on the campus in the fall to continue to support the team, she said.
Salmon told the Cardinal soccer players she was leaving at a team meeting Monday, Martin said.
"She basically said it was a hard decision and she was leaving for the University of Cincinnati," Martin said.
A source close to Cincinnati's team told the News Record, the University of Cincinnati's newspaper, that Salmon would be the Bearcats' next coach. Cincinnati had a team meeting Tuesday in which Robin Martin, the associate athletics director and senior woman administrator, told the team about the hiring, the source told the News Record.
Salmon will visit Cincinnati Friday and is moving to the city this weekend, the source said.
The news surprised the Ball State players, Martin said, but they respected Salmon's decision because coaching changes happen all the time.
Salmon replaced Ron Rainey, who left Ball State to take the head coaching job at the University of Iowa on April 20, 2006.
Martin said the experience of dealing with Rainey's departure made the Cardinals more prepared for Salmon's departure.
"I think last time we took it more personal," Martin said.
The soccer team is extremely close, she said, so the team will continue to come together and support each other.
"If any team is going to get through time it's our team," Martin said.
Salmon led the Cardinals to regular season Mid-American Conference championships in both of her seasons at Ball State. The titles were the first in the history of the Ball State program.
Last season Bowling Green State University advanced to the finals of the MAC tournament against Ball State after the Falcons won the penalty kicks. The game ended the Cardinals' season at 13-5-2 and 9-1-1 in the MAC regular season. Overall, Salmon was 26-9-5 and 17-3-2 in the MAC in her two seasons.
Salmon was named the MAC Coach of the Year in both of her seasons as the Cardinals' coach. She was the third MAC coach to win the honor in consecutive years.
This season four Cardinals earned Academic All-MAC honors for the first time at Ball State. Eight additional players made the All-MAC team.
In 2006, the Cardinals had three players receive Academic All-MAC recognition. The team also had four First Team All-MAC selections.
Salmon spent six seasons as the head coach at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County before coming to Ball State.
As a player, Salmon was a captain at the University of Maryland in 1997 and 1998. The Terrapins went to the NCAA Tournament in three straight years, from 1995 through 1997. In 1996, she was selected as a preseason All-American candidate.
Salmon also played on the United State Olympic Festival squad in 1998, the United State Under-20 National team from 1993 through 1995 and for the Under-16 team in 1991. She also was an All-American at Old Mill in high school.
She graduated in 1998 with bachelor's degrees in government and criminology and criminal justice.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
