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Barry Bimbi
Barry Bimbi enters his 13th season as head women's soccer coach at Loyola Chicago in 2023. The winningest head coach in program history, Bimbi has piloted the Maroon & Gold to an unprecedented level of success during his time in Rogers Park, racking up 106 victories while transition the program to the Atlantic 10 Conference in 2022 and sweeping four straight Missouri Valley Conference regular season and tournament titles. He's also overseen in the development of 59 all-conference selections and the program's first two United Soccer Coaches All-Americans.
In the inaugural A10 season, Bimbi led the Ramblers to an 8-8-3 overall record and a 4-5-1 finish in A10 play for the No. 8 seed in the conference tournament. Two Ramblers collected All-Atlantic 10 honors. Megan Nemec and Alaina Abel were tabbed to the second team. It marked Nemec's fourth straight honor, while Abel's was her third. In addition to the yearly awards, Loyola collected three Player of the Week honors throughout the season, while Nemec, Swanson, and Kilburg all entered the season on various Preseason Players to Watch lists by United Soccer Coaches and TopDrawer Soccer.
Bimbi also made history during his 12th season leading the Ramblers. His 100th career win came on Aug. 28 when Loyola shutout SIUE, 2-0, on the road. Taylor Harrison and Nemec found the back of the net for the two unanswered goals helping Bimbi achivie his historic win.
During its final season as a Missouri Valley Conference member, Bimbi's team left their stamp on the league, sweeping The Valley's regular season and tournament titles for a fourth straight campaign as the Ramblers closed the year at 13-3-2 overall (7-0-1 MVC), ultimately making a fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. Megan Nemec continued to add to an already decorated career, becoming the second Rambler in as many seasons to take home All-America honors from the United Soccer Coaches after repeating as the MVC Player of the Year. Eight Ramblers in total took home All-Valley honors, highlighted by Nemec, Abby Swanson, who collected her second straight Valley Defensive Player of the Year nod, and Taylor Harrison, the fourth Rambler in as many years to be named the MVC Freshman of the Year. Nemec, Swanson, Aly Kilburg and Alaina Abel were named United Soccer Coaches All-Midwest Region selections, marking the second time in as many seasons that the Ramblers totaled four honorees from the organization. Loyola also racked up honors off the field, as Nemec was named a First Team Academic All-District pick by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), the fourth Rambler during Bimbi's tenure to earn the distinction. In a group headlined by Nemec, five Ramblers were named MVC Scholar-Athlete Team selections, while Loyola was one of just seven Division I programs to be named a recipient of the United Soccer Coaches' Team Pinnacle Award, in addition to collecting its 12th straight Team Academic Award from the organization.
Bimbi's team navigated the numerous challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic to again reign atop the Missouri Valley Conference in 2020-21, finishing 8-2-1 overall and 6-1-1- in Valley play en route to another regular season and tournament double. The Ramblers went on to a third straight NCAA Tournament, where Abby Swanson, who went on to be named a Second Team All-American by the United Soccer Coaches, scored the first NCAA Tournament goal in Rambler annals in a 3-1 setback to Denver. Six members of the Loyola roster earned All-MVC accolades, led by the trio of Megan Nemec (Player of the Year), Swanson (Defensive Player of the Year), and Alaina Abel (Freshman of the Year). The three members of the trio were joined by Aly Kilburg as United Soccer Coaches All-Region selections, giving the Maroon & Gold four honorees from the organization in a single season for the first time. Loyola's success wasn't limited to the field, as six Ramblers were named MVC Scholar-Athlete selections, while both Swanson and Katharine Stephens took home Academic All-District distinction from the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). The Maroon & Gold were also honored with the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award for an 11th consecutive season.
Coming off its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 12 years, Loyola continued its dominant run of form in the MVC in 2019, completing an unblemished 7-0-0 run through league play as part of a 14-5-1 campaign. Bimbi's team ripped off a school-record 12 consecutive wins en route to completing the MVC double for a second straight season, ultimately bowing out in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament following a 1-0 overtime defeat at Hofstra. Eight Ramblers took home All-Valley accolades, with Madison Laudeman repeating as the league's Defensive Player of the Year, while Megan Nemec captured Freshman of the Year honors. For the second time in as many years, two members of the Loyola roster landed on the United Soccer Coaches All-Midwest Region Teams, as Laudeman secured a spot on the Second Team, while Simone Wark netted a Third Team nod. Bimbi's team also continued to excel away from the field, placing four student-athletes on the MVC Scholar-Athlete Team. Laudeman and Aleksa Tataryn were also lauded as Scholar All-Region selections by the United Soccer Coaches, who awarded Loyola with its Team Academic Award for a 10th straight year.
The 2018 campaign proved to be Bimbi's finest since arriving in Rogers Park. Loyola finished at 11-7-1 an 6-1-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play en route to sweeping The Valley's regular season and tournament titles. The Ramblers returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007, where they gave eventual National Champion Florida State all it could handle, ultimately dropping a hard-fought 1-0 decision to the Seminoles. Six Ramblers earned All-Missouri Valley Conference honors, led by MVC Player of the Year Jenna Szczesny, who went on to be drafted by the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). Szczesny and Madison Laudeman went on to become the first players in program history to be named First Team All-Midwest Region honorees by the United Soccer Coaches. Both Laudeman and Madison Kimball were also honored for their work in the classroom by the United Soccer Coaches as well, earning Academic All-Region accolades. Laudeman went on to be named only the second Scholar All-American in program history. Loyola was also honored with the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award for a ninth consecutive year.
Bimbi oversaw one of the nation's top offenses in 2017 as the Ramblers closed the season with a 13-7-0 record and finished third in the MVC, going 4-2-0 in league play. Led by United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-Midwest Region honoree Jenna Szczesny, who was also one of five Ramblers to earn All-MVC accolades, the Maroon & Gold finished second nationally in goals scored, finding the back of the net an astonishing 61 times as they easily shattered the previous school record in the category. Bimbi's team picked up a pair of impressive road wins over power five conference opponents in Iowa and Kentucky, before downing Valparaiso by a final count of 2-1 to earn a third consecutive trip to the semifinals of the MVC Women's Soccer Championship. Loyola also continued its run of impressive work away from the field, earning the United Soccer Coaches Team Academic Award for an eighth-straight season.
In 2016, Loyola finished the year with a record of 5-11-3 and 2-4-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play. The sixth-seeded Ramblers pulled an opening-round upset in the Missouri Valley Conference Women's Soccer Championship as they downed third-seeded Northern Iowa, 1-0, before bowing out of the league tournament to Evansville in a penalty shootout for the second time in as many seasons. Shelby Koch, Jenna Szczesny and Sienna Cruz all earned Second Team All-MVC accolades, with Cruz also being tabbed as a member of the Valley's All-Freshman Team. For the seventh time in as many seasons, Loyola was honored by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) with the organization's College Team Academic Award for its work and dedication in the classroom.
The 2015 season saw Bimbi lead a team that was picked sixth in the Missouri Valley Conference Preseason Coaches Poll to the Final of the Missouri Valley Conference Women's Soccer Championship. The Ramblers posted the fourth winning season in program history, going 9-7-5 overall and 2-2-2 in Valley play. Early season highlights included a 0-0 draw with then No. 21 DePaul and a thrilling 3-2 triumph over former Horizon League foe Milwaukee. Postseason victories over established Valley power Illinois State and Drake, the league's regular season champion, helped Loyola to is first appearance in the league's Championship game. The Ramblers were also well-represented on the MVC's All-Conference teams, led by First Team selection Mariah Vichich and Valley Freshman of the Year Jenna Szczesny. Bimbi's team also continued its solid work away from the pitch as Loyola was honored with the NSCAA College Team Academic Award for a sixth-straight season.
Bimbi's team struggled with injuries throughout the 2014 campaign en route to a 5-13-1 overall record, finishing at 2-3-1 in Valley play. The Ramblers booked a second-straight ticket to the conference tournament by defeating Evansville, 1-0, on the final day of the regular season by virtue of a first-half goal from Sammy Gage and a clean sheet from goalkeeper Monica Gonyo, two of five Ramblers who were honored as All-Missouri Valley Conference selections during the conference tournament. 2014 also served as a coming-out party for freshmen Avalon Senn-Raemont and Katie Grall. The duo combined to score seven goals in their debut season in Rogers Park. Success away from the field, a hallmark of Bimbi's teams since his arrival at Loyola, continued when the Ramblers were honored with the NSCAA's College Team Academic Award for the fifth consecutive year.
In 2013, Loyola's first year as a member of the Valley, Bimbi led the Ramblers to a final mark of 6-8-6, going 3-3-0 in conference play. The team finished third in the conference standings, far exceeding outside preseason expectations. The season was highlighted by a group of five Ramblers earning All-Missouri Valley Conference accolades. Leading the pack was senior Tricia Stonebraker wrapped up a fantastic career for the Maroon & Gold by racking up a career-best 11 points (3 goals, 5 assists) en route to a First Team selection. The development of Loyola's talented freshman duo of Hailey Merrill and Shelby Koch was also on full display. Merrill developed into a viable scoring threat for the Ramblers as the season progressed, which Koch was a stalwart on the Loyola backline. Bimbi's squad continued to excel away from the pitch as well as they were recognized for the third-time in as many years with the NSCAA College Team Academic Award.
Under Bimbi's tutelage in 2012, Loyola posted an 8-9-3 record and advanced to the semifinals of the Horizon League tournament. Hubly wrapped up her Loyola career by being named a First Team All-Horizon League selection, while Gonyo was joined on the second team by senior Chelsie Stokes. Freshman Mariah Vichich went on to be named to the Horizon League All-Newcomer Team. Loyola's success in the classroom continued as well. The team ranked 20th out of 323 Division I women's soccer programs in the country, collecting a 3.52 grade point average en route to being recognized by the NSCAA with the College Team Academic Award.
In his first season at Loyola in 2011, Bimbi coached the Ramblers to a 6-10-3 overall record and helped mold Jessie Hubly into a Second Team All-Horizon League selection, while Valerie Gonyo and Moriah Schwarz were chosen to the All-Newcomer Team. Last year, Bimbi's squad also excelled in the classroom, posting a cumulative 3.46 grade-point average in the fall and 3.58 mark in the spring. Bimbi also stresses the importance of giving back to the Loyola and surrounding community and last year, the program earned the Horizon League Community Outreach Award.
A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Bimbi spent four seasons (2007-2010) as an assistant women's soccer coach at the University of Pittsburgh, where he served as the program's recruiting coordinator and was in charge of player development. In each of his last seasons there, the Panthers developed an All-Big East Rookie Team player, marking the only two occasions in program history that accomplishment has occurred.
In 2009, Pitt finished with an 8-5-5 overall record during a breakthrough season in which the Panthers received their first-ever national ranking by Soccer America, checking in at No. 25 in September. Bimbi helped the team earn victories over nationally ranked teams such as Ohio State and Connecticut as well as earning ties against Notre Dame, which eventually reached the NCAA Final Four.
Prior to his time at Pittsburgh, Bimbi served as an assistant coach on the men's soccer staff at Marquette University and in 2002, helped the Golden Eagles to a 10-8-1 ledger. During his four-year stay at Marquette, Bimbi mentored 10 total All-Conference USA selections and helped recruit a pair of National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) High School All-Americans. While at Marquette, he served as the program's recruiting coordinator, oversaw player development and coordinated academic activities.
Bimbi began his coaching career at his alma mater, spending six seasons at Saint Francis (Pa.), as an assistant on the men's staff. There, he helped lead the Red Flash to the program's first-ever back-to-back winning records in Northeast Conference play and aided in the recruitment of four academic All-Americans.
Bimbi has also coached several Olympic Development teams and earned his USSF "A" license in 2005.
A 1994 graduate of Saint Francis (Pa.), Bimbi earned four All-Northeast Conference honors as a player, including first team recognition as a junior. He led the conference in scoring as a freshman and was a three-time team captain. In February, 2011 Bimbi was inducted into the Saint Francis (Pa.) Athletics Hall of Fame.
Bimbi and his wife, Melissa, are the proud parents of a son, Amedeo, and daughter, Lena.
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