April 23, 2001
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - As far as builders go, Tim Lenahan has earned the reputation as the Bob Vila of men's college soccer. A 1977 graduate of Overbrook High School, Lenahan has turned struggling programs at Richard Stockton and Lafayette into big winners. He's now about to take on his biggest challenge.
In March, Lenahan was named the head coach at Northwestern University. Playing in the Big Ten Conference, which includes perennial NCAA title contender Indiana, Northwestern is coming off an 0-17-1 season and lost to Michigan State, 6-0, in the conference tournament. Lenahan, 41, replaced Michael Kunert, who resigned after 19 years.
"I called a lot of people in the Big Ten, and they felt that Northwestern is a sleeping giant," Lenahan said. "I was very, very happy at Lafayette and at Stockton, but in both cases the programs had become what I had envisioned they would be. Now, this is a new challenge."
Stockton was 2-15 the year before Lenahan took over. He went 94-50-16 during his eight-year tenure, was named New Jersey Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1990, '93 and '96, and guided the team to four NCAA Division III tournament appearances. The school had never earned an NCAA tournament berth before his arrival.
Lafayette was 4-12 the year before Lenahan's arrival. In his three years, the Leopards went 32-18-4 and won two regular-season Patriot League titles and two postseason league championships while earning one NCAA Division I tournament berth. His combined record at Stockton and Lafayette was 126-68-20 (.636).
"I wouldn't have come to Northwestern if I didn't think we could win here," he said. "You're in the Big Ten, and we are the No. 1 academic school in the entire Midwest. Certainly, there's a big upside, and the school has made a new commitment to soccer."
Lenahan's track record for building winners has heightened expectations at Northwestern.
"He's a proven head coach who has had tremendous success building soccer programs," Northwestern athletic director Rick Taylor said. "We expect Tim to take men's soccer at Northwestern to the next level."
Lenahan says he has been encouraged by Northwestern's 3-0-1 record this spring. Even though the main soccer season is in the fall, Lenahan says, now is the time to create a winning atmosphere.
Lenahan was replaced at Lafayette by another South Jersey product, Dennis Bohn, who was the Leopards' No. 1 assistant last season. Bohn hails from Delran and attended Philadelphia's Roman Catholic High School.
"I have only recommended two people for head coaching jobs: Jeff Haines (at Stockton), who went to the Final Four after replacing me, and now Dennis, and I know he will do a good job at Lafayette," Lenahan said.
this story was written by Marc Narducci and appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer on April 18, 2001