In his first year as Head Coach of the Ashford University men's soccer program, Richard Markham promptly led the Saints to their first ever NAIA National Tournament appearance, a regular-season and conference tournament crown and an undefeated regular season.
In addition, the Saints climbed as high as No. 22 in the nation in the final NAIA Top-25 Coaches Poll and Markham went on to collect Midwest Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year recognition and NSCAA Midwest Region Coach of the Year honors by his peers.
So what's next for an encore?
In Markham's first year at the helm, the Saints bought into his philosophy and exploded on the national scene, establishing themselves as defensive stalwarts that led to a season for the ages and some additional banners lining the ceiling in Ashford's Kehl Arena.
Markham originally joined the coaching staff at Ashford with a diverse coaching background. He began his career as an assistant soccer coach at Westmar University in LeMars in 1993.
Markham followed that stint with an assistant coaching position at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. While in the Lone Star State, MSU 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, ultimately leading the men's unit to a Midwest Classic Conference runner-up finish in 1997.
Markham also has extensive coaching experience at the high school level. From 2001-03, he served as the Head Boys Soccer Coach at Sioux City-North High School, 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 Davenport Assumption High School and coach the boys' soccer program at Geneseo High School, where he led both teams to unprecedented success in school history.
Markham also currently coaches the Geneseo Explosion Club team as well as the Pleasant Valley High School girls' program, to 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 with his wife, Kelly, and their daughters, Peyton and Riley.
Coaching
Honors
- NSCAA Midwest Region Head 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 (1997-99)
- Head Boys Soccer Coach - Sioux City-North High School (2000-03)
- Head Boy Soccer Coach - Geneseo High School (2003-06)
- Head Girls Soccer Coach - Pleasant Valley High School (2009-Present)
- Head Men's Soccer Coach - Ashford University (2009-Present)
The Saints Under Markham (2009-Present)
| (M) Year | W-L-T | MCC | Pct. | Conf.
Finish |
| 2009*^ | 19-1-2 | 6-0-2 | .950 | 1st |
| Totals | 19-1-2 | 6-0-2 | .950 |
*Advanced to the NAIA National Championships
^Midwest Collegiate Conference Champion
Yager, a graduate of conference counterpart St. Ambrose University, will be working alongside his former high school coach, MCC Coach of the Year Richard Markham in his first year as graduate assistant coach for the Ashford men's soccer program.
In Markham's first year as head coach of the Saints, Ashford enjoyed its first trip to the NAIA National Championships, hosting opening-round action in Rock Island, Ill.
Yager played collegiately as a forward at Iowa Central Community College for two years before finishing his eligibility at St. Ambrose and suiting up on the field for the Fighting Bees. He graduated with his degree in Business Management.
As a senior at SAU in 2008, Yager started 20 games, finishing the season with a balanced six goals and nine assists. His 21 points tied for third on the team.
In his first year at St. Ambrose as a junior transfer from Iowa Central, Yager booted home 12 goals and assisted on four other scores. He finished his two-year career in Davenport with 18 goals and 13 assists (49 points).
Markham served as Yager's coach at Sioux City North High School for two years. Yager also coached a girls high school club team from 2005-07, the Sioux City Trouble.
Yager currently resides in Clinton.
The Yager
File
- Girls Club Team Coach - Sioux City Trouble (2005-07)
- Graduate Assistant Men's Soccer Coach - Ashford University (2010-Present)
Garza was officially brought on board in August as a graduate assistant coach thanks to record-breaking roster numbers for the Ashford men's soccer program. He serves AU Head Coach Richard Markham in helping with all aspects of the program.
Garza was instrumental in helping the Saints to their first ever NAIA National Championships berth last season in a memorable undefeated regular season that included Midwest Collegiate Conference regular season and postseason tournament crowns.
All told in his prolific career as a forward/defender, Garza was a four-time All-MCC choice by the league's coaches and a three-time Academic All-MCC selection. He recorded a hat trick in three separate games in 2009, leading the Saints with 14 scores as a senior.
Garza was a two-year team captain and was twice named the MCC Offensive Player of the Week last season. He cashed in for five goals as a freshman, following a prep career at Guilford High School in Rockford, Ill.
Garza's younger brother, Geraldo, is a sophomore on this year's Ashford squad. He obtained his degree in Sports and Recreation Management and will pursue his Master's Degree in Organizational Management as a graduate assistant coach.
The Garza File
- Graduate Assistant Men's Soccer Coach - Ashford University (2010-Present)
