MacMurray hires new men's and women's soccer coaches
The MacMurray Highlanders added two local coaches to the staff during the offseason. John Mansholt, who will continue as head girls’ soccer coach at Jacksonville High School, takes over the men’s team, while former head soccer coach at Benedictine University in Springfield, Andrew Lenhardt, will coach the women’s team.
“Early on we identified Andrew and John as the coaches we wanted to lead our programs,” said MacMurray Athletic Director Justin Fuhler. “They both have a wealth of knowledge, and their local ties will benefit the MacMurray soccer program and the MacMurray athletic program as a whole,” he continued. “Both Andrew and John have been successful coaches and players, and we are excited about them translating their successes to MacMurray College.”
Men’s Soccer
MacMurray College appointed John Mansholt, of Jacksonville, IL as the new head men’s soccer coach. He will continue to coach the JHS girls’ team, which he has for the past 18 years and which plays at a different time of the year than the Highlanders.
Mansholt had much success at Jacksonville High School, where he won the Section 11 Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2007. He also led his team to the 2011 Central State Eight Conference Championship and has had several players selected to the all-conference and academic all-conference teams. He also is a coach and trainer at the Jacksonville Soccer Club.
Prior to Jacksonville High School, he was the head men’s soccer coach at Illinois College, his alma mater, for 10 years. Mansholt earned his National Soccer Coaches Association of America National Diploma Coaches License.
Women’s Soccer
Andrew Lenhardt has been named the women’s head soccer coach at MacMurray College. He was previously the head men’s and women’s soccer coach at Benedictine University in Springfield for the past three years.
In his time at Benedictine, he built the women’s team from a one-win program in 2011 into back-to-back conference playoff appearances in 2013 and 2014.
He received his bachelor’s degree in social science from Saint Xavier University in Chicago, moving on to complete his master’s degree from Southern New Hampshire University in Hooksett, NH, where he majored in sport management with a graduate certificate in athletic administration.
Lenhardt is also the director at Springfield Area Soccer Association.
As an athlete, Lenhardt was the Skyway Conference Player of the Year and Second Team All-American at McHenry County College. At Saint Xavier, he was named the CCAC Player of the Year, Region Runner-up Player of the Year, First Team All-Conference and Region, NAIA All-American Honorable Mention. He was also named St. Xavier Academic Bronze Medal Student Athlete in 2003 and 2005.
