Baumann honored with NSCAA/MONDO Division III Central Region Coach Of The Year award
RIVER FOREST, Ill. -- The NSCAA has announced the 2009 NSCAA/MONDO Division III Men's Soccer Regional Coach of the Year Awards with Dominican University's Erick Baumann claiming the honor for the Central Region. It is the second time in 15 seasons the Stars' leader has been honored with a regional coach of the year award, as Baumann was named the NAIA Region VII Coach of the Year in 1999 when he guided the Stars to the program's first regional championship.

"I am so proud of Erick," said Donna Carroll, Dominican University President. "He is so deserving of this recognition. As an alumnus and as a coach, he represents all the best characteristics of a Dominican education --- integrity, compassion, high standards and solid values. He is a star among stars. And we all delight in his accomplishments."

This season, Baumann led the Stars to a 19-2-3 overall record, claiming the Northern Athletics Conference regular season and tournament championships and earning the program's eighth straight bid to the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship. In the national tournament, Baumann and the Stars made a run all the way to the semifinals, the program's first Final Four appearance, after posting wins over Elmhurst, Whitewater, Loras and Whitworth before falling to the Calvin College Knights in the national semifinals.

"It is an honor to be recognized by fellow Division III soccer coaches as the region coach of the year," commented Baumann. "I appreciate the award as it is truly a reflection of the commitment and dedication of my players and their desire to succeed as a unit."

Baumann is currently the program's all-time leader in wins with a 254-61-19 career mark and ranks in the top five winningest active NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Coaches with a .789 career winning percentage. He has been honored with nine conference coach of the year awards from the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference, Northern Illinois-Iowa Conference, Lake Michigan Conference and Northern Athletics Conference. Baumann's teams have captured 13 regular season conference championships and 12 conference tournament championships in just 15 seasons, making nine national tournament appearances, including eight straight since becoming eligible for the NCAA Division III postseason tournament in 2002.

In addition to his success as a coach, Baumann took over responsibilities as the Director of Athletics at Dominican University in Summer of 2006. During that three-year span, the department winning percentage has increased every year, climbing above the .500 mark for the first time in over a decade during the 2008-2009 season while the cumulative department grade point average has remained steady above a 3.0.

Courtesy of Dominican University, Sports Information Department, December 12, 2009.