University of North Texas Athletics
Green Gang: Hedlund's Illustrious Career About To Hit Milestone
8/5/2009 12:00:00 AM | Return to Play
By Kenny Bybee, August 5, 2009, 10:31 a.m.
With only 10 days remaining until the North Texas women’s soccer team opens up the 2009 season with an exhibition game against TCU, head coach John Hedlund stands on the cusp of history.
Entering his 15th season with the Mean Green, Hedlund is only four wins shy of reaching the 200-win plateau. The good thing for North Texas fans is he will likely reach the milestone at home. The Mean Green play five of their first six games at the North Texas Soccer Field. When he does so, and I will say when because this team has never had a losing season and is locked and loaded again with young talent, Hedlund will be joining some pretty elite company.
Only 30 active Division I coaches in the nation (that have five-plus years of experience) has won 200 plus games in their career. Hedlund currently sits at No. 32 with a career record of 196-76-14.
"Having the opportunity to win 200 games in my career within the same program is a milestone that I will never forget," Hedlund said on Tuesday. "So many great memories that were shared on the field with players and coaches makes it even more special to me."
If you want an even more staggering number let’s look at Hedlund’s career winning percentage. After last season’s 15-4-1 record his winning percentage jumped to .710, the 13th best mark in NCAA Division I HISTORY for coaches who have served 10 or more years. He is also 55th all-time in all of the NCAA in winning percentage.
All of these numbers are nice and everything but the bottom line is John Hedlund is one heck of a coach and has proven year-in and year-out that he can get the job done. North Texas has won 15 or more games six straight seasons and has never won less than 11 games in a year.
This record should give Hedlund and his team just another added incentive to get back to Sun Belt prominence in 2009.
