ROLLA, Mo. – Joe McCauley, who led Missouri S&T's women's soccer team to its best campaign in more than two decades and to the Great Lakes Valley Conference semifinals during the 2021 season, is stepping down from the program's head coaching position.

McCauley guided the Miners to a 9-6-3 record during the past season – S&T's best record since going 10-7-1 in 1999 – and a 7-4-3 mark in the GLVC.  The Miners set a new school record during the 2021 season by recording 12 shutouts and had three players named to the All-GLVC team, including first-team selections Sydney Gratz (Geneva, IL/Geneva) and Kristin Steins (Ballwin, MO/Parkway South).  It marked the first time the Miners had three players named to the All-GLVC team in the same year.

"I am thankful for his time working at S&T and for his commitment and dedication to the young women that played in the program," said Missouri S&T director of athletics Melissa Ringhausen. "He was a valued member of the department and has left our women's soccer team well-positioned for continued success.  I wish him well in this next phase of his career."

During his 12 seasons as head coach, McCauley led the Miners to three GLVC Tournament appearances.  In 2010, the Miners finished 8-7 but fell to third-seeded Quincy in the opening round.  Four years later, the Miners entered the tournament as the seventh seed and posted shutouts in their first two games over Bellarmine and Quincy – winning the latter game in a penalty kick shootout – before losing to top-seeded and fourth-ranked Wisconsin-Parkside in the championship game.

This season, the Miners held their opponents to just 16 goals in 18 games as they made the tournament, shutting out third-seeded Truman State 2-0 to advance to the semifinals before dropping the semifinal contest on a penalty kick goal in overtime to eventual champion Drury.

Missouri S&T's women's soccer team has also excelled in the classroom during McCauley's tenure, as the Miners earned the GLVC's Team Academic Award in eight of the past 11 seasons – including each of the last five – and had two Academic All-America selections during that span.

Missouri S&T will conduct a national search to fill the position.