Wendy Dillinger

Dillinger's senior career began with the W-League's Indiana Blaze in 1997 where she played through 2000. In 1997, Dillinger started nine games in which she recorded three goals and two assists. In 1998, she started the final two games of the season after returning from Denmark. Dillinger played a leading role in helping the Blaze win the Central Conference and advance to the W-2 Final Four in 2000 where they finished third overall. In July 1999, she was named to the W-League Team of the Week alongside Charmaine Hooper of the Chicago Cobras.

In the summer of 1998, Dillinger headed to Europe to play professionally for Denmark's Fredericksburg Boldklub. She scored three goals and added three assists in five games to help Fredericksburg advance to the Elite Division.

In February 2000, the Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) was founded by John S. Hendricks. Dillinger was invited to the week-long combine held at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida December 5–9, 2000, during which 200 invitation-only players got the chance to participate in games and drills.[9] During this combine, Dillinger recorded the first official WUSA penalty kick. Dillinger was not selected in the initial draft; however, she did receive invitations to try out for the Atlanta Beat and Carolina Courage in February 2001. She attended the Beat's invitation-only tryout which took place on the campus of Emory University February 15–18 and consisted of 19 invitees from around the country. On February 19, the Atlanta Beat finalized their pre-season roster of 28 which included the addition of Dillinger along with Suzanne Eastman, Charry Korgel and Sarah Reading. March 1 marked the beginning of a month-long pre-season in which the 28-player roster trained at Bobby Dodd Stadium on Georgia Tech's campus.[10]

On March 28, 2001, the Atlanta Beat defeated the San Diego Spirit 2–0 and moved to 8–0–1 in pre-season play. Dillinger scored the first goal from the penalty spot.[11] By the end of pre-season, Dillinger led the Beat in scoring with four goals. On April 2 WUSA rosters were cut from 28 to 20 and the Atlanta Beat announced their final roster which included Dillinger as well as FIFA co-Player of the Century Sun Wen.[12] Three weeks following the Beat's season opener, Dillinger was released. Upon returning home, Dillinger underwent knee surgery. She was one of three Indiana Hoosiers to play during the inaugural WUSA season along with Tracy Grose, Carolina Courage and Kelly Wilson, Bay Area CyberRays.[13]

In 2004, Dillinger concluded her playing career as player-coach for the W-League's St. Louis Archers. She tallied four goals and three assists in six games. Dillinger officially retired in April 2005 after a patellar realignment.

Dillinger served as the women's soccer assistant coach at her alma mater Indiana University under Head Coach Joe Kelley for four seasons (1998–2001). During her tenure, she helped guide the Hoosiers to 35 wins, including an NCAA Tournament berth and the first NCAA Tournament win in school history in 1998.

Dillinger was head coach of the Washington University in St. Louis women's soccer team from 2002 until 2007. In six seasons on the Danforth Campus, Dillinger guided Washington University to an 86–25–8 overall record. She ranked 14th among active Division III coaches, winning 75.6 percent of her games.

In her first year as a head coach, Dillinger guided the Bears to a 10–5–3 record (10–2–3 vs Division III opponents), including a 3–2–2 mark in the UAA. Three Washington University athletes were named to the All-UAA Second Team, ten student-athletes earned Academic All-UAA Honors, and three were named Academic All-District.

In 2003, Dillinger led WU to a 14–3–3 mark, and won the second UAA championship in school history. Twelve Washington University student-athletes earned Academic All-UAA Honors, two of whom were named ESPN the Magazine Academic All-Americans. They were UAA Champions and named UAA Coaching Staff of the Year. The Bears finished with an NSCAA Final National Ranking of 18th.

In 2004, Dillinger and the Bears posted a 17–3–1 mark and advanced to the Sectional Finals for the third time in school history before falling 0–3 to No. 6 University of Puget Sound. They won their third overall UAA Title and second under Dillinger and finished 12th in the final NSCAA National Rankings.

In 2005, the Bears finished 11–7–1 (3–4–0 in UAA) outscoring opposition 32–12. Three players earned All-UAA recognition. In 2006, The Bears tied the school record for wins with a 17–3 overall record, including a 7–0 record in University Athletic Association (UAA) play, while outscoring their opponents 56–9. Dillinger and her staff were awarded UAA Coaching Staff of the Year honors after capturing the UAA title and advancing to the NCAA Sectional Semi-Finals before falling to Washington & Lee 1–2. Twelve student-athletes earned Academic All-UAA Honors. The Bears finished the season ranked 11th according to the NSCAA Final Poll.[14]

In 2007, Washington University advanced to the NCAA Sectional Round for the third time under Dillinger before falling to No. 3 TCNJ 0–1. Again tying a school record with 17 wins, the Bears finished with a final record of 17–4. For the fourth time in six years, Dillinger guided her team to a UAA Championship. The Bears finished 9th in the NSCAA Final National Rankings.[15]

On January 24, 2008, senior associate athletics director Calli Sanders announced Dillinger as the women's soccer new head coach of the Iowa State Cyclones.[16] She recorded her first win with the Cyclones at DePaul University on Friday, September 5, 2008 in a 3–1 victory. Dillinger also captured her 100th career win as a head coach on August 22, 2010 against Northern Iowa by a tally of 3–1.

In 2008, Dillinger's first season as head coach of the Cyclones, the team had a final overall record of 5–12–2 (0–8–2 Big 12) including wins against two in-state rivals Drake and Northern Iowa. Seven players were named Academic All-Big 12, two of whom were named CoSIDA District VII Academic All- Americans. The women's soccer team captured the Cyclone Challenge Cup for community service.

The 2009 season saw steady improvement with a 7–9–4 overall record (2–8–0 Big 12) including wins over No. 20 DePaul, Oklahoma State, Texas and Northern Iowa. Nine players in all were named to the Academic All-Big 12 Team. For the second consecutive year, the soccer program was recognized for their work in the community by winning the Cyclone Challenge Cup.

In 2010, the Cyclones finished 8–10–2 (3–7–0 Big 12). The Cyclones produced eight shutouts on the season and fell on one goal losses to No. 8 Oklahoma State and in overtime to No. 7 Texas A&M. Seven players were named to the Academic All-Big 12 team.

In 2011, the Cyclones finished the season with an even 9–9–1 (2–6 Big 12) and set a season record for shutouts holding nine opponents scoreless including wins over No. 23 Washington and Texas Tech. The season also included a last second 0–1 loss to No. 2 Oklahoma State as well as a 1–0 win in what would be the Missouri Tigers last ever Big 12 match. The Cyclones ended the year with an RPI ranking of 78th in the nation. A program best 13 players were named to the Academic All-Big 12 Team.

In 2012, the Cyclones ended even again at 10–10–0 (1–7–0 Big 12). They recorded another seven shutouts while dropping four one-goal losses to ranked opponents. The soccer program was recognized with the Cyclone Service Team Award while posting a league-high 18 players to the Academic All-Big 12 Team.

In 2013, the Cyclones broke the 0.500 barrier and qualified for the Big 12 Conference Tournament for the first time since 2007. Their fourth place Big 12 finish was the second highest in program history, finishing the season 9–8–2 (3–4–1 Big 12). However, Dillinger was relieved of her coaching duties on November 3, 2013;[17] and the Cyclones lost to Baylor 0–1 in the Big 12 Tournament under Interim Coach Tony Minatta. Out of a possible 15 eligible upperclassmen, 14 were named to the Academic All-Big 12 Team.

Dillinger was named the head women's soccer coach at the University of Missouri-St. Louis on December 19, 2013.[18] Dillinger joined former Indiana Hoosier and men's coach Dan King.[19] Dillinger's first Triton win was a 3-0 victory over Waldorf College at Don Dallas Stadium on September 5, 2014.

In 2014, Dillinger's first season as head coach, the Tritonss record was 8-8-1 (6-8-1 GLVC). The Tritons earned the NSCAA College Team Academic Award for its work in the classroom.

In 2015, the Tritons posted the most wins since 2007 finishing with an overall record of 12-5-4 (8-3-4 GLVC) and returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 32 years.[20] Fall 2015 also saw the induction of former UMSL All-Americans Jan Gettermeyer Sansone and Joan Gettemeyer into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame.[21] The Tritons recognized the two for their contribution to the soccer community on October 23 after tying #18 Bellarmine 2-2. The Tritons finished the regular season in 4th securing a home field first round conference tournament game where they defeated fifth seed Drury University 2-1. The Tritons advanced to the GLVC Championship after besting top-seeded Bellarmine 2-1, but lost to Truman State in the Championship Final 0-1. They then received an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, travelling to Grand Valley State University where they lost 0-1 to rival Quincy despite outshooting the Hawks 21-9.[22]

In 2016, the Tritons again secured an at-large bid to participate in the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Tournament, after finishing third in the Great Lakes Valley Conference regular season (13-5-1 GLVC 11-3-1). The Triton side dropped five matches to #2 Grand Valley State, #8 Bellarmine, #15 Rockhurst (twice) and unranked Indianapolis while drawing even with #19 Truman State and revenging two earlier losses against #12 Rockhurst in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.[23] Six players earned All-Great Lakes Valley Conference honors.[24] Freshman goalkeeper Emily Rish was named the GLVC Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week after posting a pair of shutouts, holding No. 19 Truman State and Quincy scoreless for 200 minutes.[25] The Triton squad recorded the most wins in program history since 2003 and notched the program its first NCAA win since 1982.[26] In March 2017, former Triton Kirsten Crabtree signed with Skovde KIK in the Sweden Women’s Professional Soccer League, becoming the first UMSL alumnae to play professionally overseas.[27] In June 2017, the GLVC announced that two members, Miranda Buettner and Miriam Taylor, were distinguished with the Council of Presidents' Academic Excellence Award, and sport-high twelve players were named to the Academic All-GLVC Team. [28]

In 2017, Dillinger's squad fell below the 0.500 mark, and consequently did not qualify for post-season play (5-7-4 GLVC 4-7-3). The Tritons finished in a five-way tie for ninth place in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.[29] Off the field, the Tritons partnered with Missouri Youth Soccer Association and Jennings School District to forge youth grassroots developmental soccer program. The project was awarded a US Soccer 'Innovate to Grow' Grant to expand the program.[30]

Dillinger serves as the Director of Triton Soccer Camps which specializes in high school aged identification and youth development. Previously she served as the director of Cyclone Soccer Camps LLC in Ames, Iowa for six years, hosting over 500 campers on the Iowa State University campus. She spent 14 consecutive summers as a member of the camp staff at Indiana University Soccer Camps and has also helped with camps at Washington University, IUPUI, Northern Arizona University, St. Louis University, University of Missouri and West Virginia Wesleyan University.

While in Missouri and Indiana, Dillinger coached USYSA teams from Scott Gallagher MR (U8, U9, U10), Lou Fusz (U17), Missouri Rush (U10, U11), Bayern Munchkin (U7), JB Marine (U17, U18), Junior Hoosiers FC (U14, U16, U19), Bloomington Cutters (U12) and Center Grove SC (U12, U14, U17). In the spring of 2017, Dillinger was named Head Coach of the WPSL Fire & Ice Reserves Team.[31]

Dillinger earned her NSCAA National Diploma in January 2000 at Nova Southeastern University. She has been a member of the NSCAA since 1998 and has attended NSCAA Annual Conventions in Baltimore, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Philadelphia, St. Louis and Charlotte.