A new era is about to get underway at Ashford University as Richard Markham begins his first season as Head Men's Soccer Coach this fall. Markham has experienced success at every turn in his coaching career as he looks to continue where current women's soccer Head Coach Mick Regan left off.

Markham joins the coaching staff at Ashford with a diverse coaching background. He began his career as an Assistant Soccer Coach at Westmar University in LeMars, Iowa, in 1993. He followed that with an Assistant Head Coaching position at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. While there, his team qualified for the NAIA National Tournament, playing for the National Championship in 1995.

Markham was named the Head Coach of the Sioux City Breeze, a USL Premier Development League team in 1997. He coached there for one season before being named the Head Men's and Women's Soccer Coach at Marycrest International University in Davenport, Iowa. He led the men's team to a Midwest Classic Conference runner-up finish in 1997.

Markham also has extensive coaching at the high school level. From 2001-2003, he served as the Head Boy's Soccer Coach at Sioux City North, finishing his tenure there with three consecutive state tournament appearances and an overall record of 52-6-2.

Markham then moved on to coach the girls' soccer program at Assumption High School in Davenport, Iowa, and Head Boys Soccer Coach at Geneseo High School in Illinois.

He led both teams to unprecedented success. He coaches the Geneseo Explosion Club team as well as the Pleasant Valley High School girls' program, which he guided to a state appearance in 2009.

Markham, a 1995 graduate of Teikyo Westmar University, received his Master of Science degree in Kinesiology from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas, in 1997. He currently resides in Bettendorf, Iowa, with his wife Kelly and their daughters Peyton and Riley.

Coaching Honors

• MCC Men's Soccer Head Coach of the Year (2009)
• NSCAA/Mondo Midwest Region Coach of the Year (2009)
  

The Markham File

• Assistant Men's Soccer Coach - Westmar University (1993-95)
• Assistant Men's Soccer Coach - Midwestern State University (Wichita Falls, Texas)
• Head Men's and Women's Soccer Coach - Marycrest International University (Davenport) (1997-99)
• Head Boys Soccer Coach - Sioux City North High School (2000-03)
• Head Boys Soccer Coach - Geneseo High School (2003-06)
• Head Girls Soccer Coach - Davenport Pleasant Valley High School (2009-Present)
• Head Men's Soccer Coach - Ashford University (2009-Present)

Clark enters his second year with the Ashford men's soccer program this fall on the athletics staff as an assistant coach after completing a successful collegiate career for the Saints. He was a graduate assistant coach for both the men's and women's programs last year under Head Coach Mick Regan.

Clark completed and is USSF certified, achieving his National "D" Coaching License in recent history.

A four-time All-Midwest Collegiate Conference selection while roaming the center-midfield position, Clark played nearly every minute during his four-year career.

Originally from St. Joseph, Mo., he assists the soccer program in all facets from recruiting to training and logistics.

While coaching for the Saints, Clark will be pursuing his Master's Degree with the university. He currently resides in Clinton, Iowa.

The Clark File

• Soccer Coach - Quad Cities United Soccer Club (2008-Present)
• Graduate Assistant Men's and Women's Soccer Coach - Ashford University (2008-09)
• Assistant Men's Soccer Coach - Ashford University (2009-Present)