The all-time soccer coaching wins leader at Missouri Western, Chad Edwards has built the Griffon Soccer program into an MIAA and regional championship contender.
Under Edwards' leadership, the program has set new heights and re-written the record books in recent seasons, culminating in the most successful season in school history in 2017. Edwards became the program's all-time wins leader in 2016 and took the program from a 2-13-3 record in 2012 to a 17-5 NCAA Central Region Championships qualifying mark in 2017.
Edwards' teams have also achieved great success off the field, consistently achieving high academic marks and receiving United Soccer Coaches Team Academic and Sportsmanship awards. Following the 2017 season, Griffon Soccer was awarded a Bronze Presidential Volunteer Service Award for its countless hours working with St. Joseph's Habitat for Humanity.
The Griffons were picked to finish second in the MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll in 2018. The Griffons finished 2018 with an overall record of 12-7 (7-4 MIAA). The Griffons made history on Sept. 21, upsetting No. 1-ranked Central Missouri at home by a score of 1-0. Central Missouri, the defending national champions, entered on a 32-game win streak. The Jennies had scored a goal in 58-straight games before being shut out by the Griffons. Missouri Western's upset-win over Central Missouri came in the midst of a stretch where the Griffons won 10 of 12 games. Eight Griffons earned All-MIAA honors in 2018.
The 2017 season saw the Griffons finish as the runner-up in both the MIAA regular season and postseason championships behind eventual national champion Central Missouri. It was the highest-ever MIAA finish for the program. The Griffons also earned an at-large bid in the NCAA Central Region Championships, also a first for the program. Not only did the team become the first in Griffon Soccer history to win a postseason game, the team won two while advancing to the MIAA Championships final against Central Missouri. The team shattered program records for wins (17), points (137), goals (51) and assists (35) in a season along with countless other individual and team records. Individually, Edwards saw three student-athletes receive All-Central Region honors (Madeline Cowell, Bridget Blessie and Cassidy Menke) and a record, 10 receive All-MIAA honors. Menke was also named first team CoSIDA Academic All-District.
Missouri Western continued raise the standard of success in 2016 under Edwards as the team won a record 11 games, finished a program best 5th in the MIAA and qualified for the MIAA tournament for the third consecutive season. Cassidy Menke became the first Griffon from women's soccer to earn All-MIAA as she broke a program record with nine goals in a season including an MIAA leading six game-winning goals. Five players would be named to All-MIAA teams under Edwards guidance.
In the 2015 season, Edwards helped the Griffons to their first winning record at 9-8-1 overall and 5-5-1 in MIAA action. MWSU recorded season records of game-winning goals (9), save percentage (.842), and goals against avg. (0.81). It was the second straight year the Griffons earned a spot in the MIAA tournment. He also coached six All-MIAA players for the second straight season including Sarah Lyle, Sydney Andrews, Bridget Blessie, Taylor Gant, Ashlyn Powers, Drew Mantlo. The Griffons also placed 12 on the MIAA academic honor roll.
In 2014, Edwards led the Griffons to a 9-9-1 overall record and a 6-7-1 MIAA record. The 2014 season included over 20 records being broke by the Griffons. Edwards became the all-time wins leader in Griffon Soccer history and led the Griffons to their first MIAA tournament game. MWSU record eight shutouts and also had a winning streak of five. He also coached six All-MIAA players including Sarah Lyle, Taylor Gant, Tara Russell, Sydney Andrews, K.C. Ramsell, and Paige Phipps. The 2014 season also included 16 different players on the MIAA academic honor roll.
In 2013 the Griffons had a tough go of it with multiple injuries and set backs. The Griffons opened the season winning two of their first four games with junior Tara Russell collecting four goals and one assist in nine games before an injury ended her season. He had eight players earn MIAA All-Academic for having a 3.0 GPA or higher (
Alexa Adams,,Sydney Andrews,,Emily Hoffmann,,Katie Kempf,,Drew Mantlo, Allie (AJ) Powers,,K.C. Ramsell,and,Teddi Serna. and his team earned the NSCAA Team Academic Award for the 2012-13 academic year for having at least a 3.0 GPA. It marks the fourth consecutive season and fifth time in the program's nine year existence (2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 & 2013) winning the award.
In his second season (2012), Edwards helped the Griffons improve by two victories, guiding them to their second highest win total in school history with six. Edwards coached two All-MIAA performers, as senior midfielder Ashlyn Castillo earned second team honors and senior goal keeper Kelly Voigts was an honorable mention selection.
Edwards got his first collegiate victory on September 4, 2011 against Southwestern Oklahoma State by a score of 2-0 in Edmond, Oklahoma. He also coached honorable mention All-MIAA goal keeper Kelly Voigts.
Edwards became the third women’s soccer coach in Missouri Western school history, taking over the program in August 2011.
Edwards came to Missouri Western after three seasons as the assistant men’s and women’s soccer coach at Avila University in Kansas City, Mo., He played a vital role in the day-to-day operations of both the men’s and women’s programs and was the director of the Avila Elite Soccer Camps.
While at Avila, he helped 12 players earn HAAC All-Conference honors. During the three seasons that Edwards was at Avila, the women’s squad went a combined 25-24-4, with their best season coming in 2010 when they went 10-8.
Prior to Avila, Edwards assisted the men’s soccer program at Missouri Southern State University in Jopln. He was responsible for all aspects of goalkeeper training and assisted with practice planning, game day management and in-game coaching. He also coordinated recruiting, alumni relations, fund-raising, travel arrangements and individual/team off-season workouts. He was also an adjunct professor, teaching economics and Using Information Systems.
Edwards was active in Kansas City club soccer and is currently the director of coaching for the St. Joseph Youth Soccer Association. He has coached club teams for the Kansas City Legends Soccer Club and assists with the Missouri Olympic Development Program. He holds multiple National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Diplomas as well as United States Soccer Federation (USSF) Coaching Licenses.
Edwards played at Missouri Southern from 1997-2000 where he was voted team captain and helped the team win a conference championship in 1997. He graduated from MSSU in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in marketing and earned a Master’s of Business Administration from Baker University in 2005. Edwards and his wife, Tiffany, reside in St. Joseph with their daughter, Meleah, and their son, Tyler.
2019: Overall: 4-11-3
MIAA: 1-8-2
2018: Overall: 12-7
MIAA: 7-4
2017: Overall: 17-5
MIAA: 9-2
2016: Overall: 11-7-1
MIAA: 6-5
2015:
Overall: 9-8-1,
MIAA: 5-5-1
2014: Overall: 9-9-1,
MIAA: 6-7-1
2013: Overall: 2-13-3
, MIAA: 0-10-1
2012: Overall: 6-9-1,
MIAA: 4-7-1
2011: Overall: 4-10,
MIAA: 1-7
Overall: 74-79-10,
MIAA: 39-55-6
Home: 37-36-4
Away: 33-40-6
Neutral: 4-3
