Indiana University Athletics
Men’s Soccer Remembers Past, Looks to Future as 50th Anniversary Celebration Closes
5/20/2023 11:40:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Saturday (May 20) in Bloomington was a day to reminisce on the history of Indiana men's soccer.
Great conversations were had and memories shared as members of the IU men's soccer family enjoyed breakfast together in the Indiana Memorial Union and watched showings of "Worth the Wait," the documentary detailing the journey to the program's first of eight national titles.
In the afternoon, alumni and friends of the program filled the Mellencamp Pavilion to do what they do best - play soccer. A scrimmage broke out, and former players got to relive championship moments. Members of the Hoosier Army alumni team playing in The Soccer Tournament this June gave their peers a preview of what they will see in just a couple of weeks.
Then, it was time for the grand finale. Saturday evening over 325 guests - national champions, hall-of-famers, and those who love the program - spanning over five decades, even going back to when IU men's soccer was a club, joined together for a family reunion at Henke Hall inside Memorial Stadium.
Indiana director of athletics Scott Dolson took the stage:
"In 1973, our board of trustees made the best decision ever, and that's making IU men's soccer a varsity sport," he said.
A man who had a major impact on that decision, Jeff Richardson, also spoke and was followed by teammate and one of Jerry Yeagley's first assistant coaches, Don Rawson, always the prankster, who filled the venue with laughter.
The audience heard from 2004 national champion head coach Mike Freitag, who gave a heartfelt message from his home in Colorado, as well as some of the top names in United States Soccer, who all congratulated the program on 50 years of excellence.
The penultimate message came from current IU head soccer coach Todd Yeagley, who spoke about the direction of the program, his family and the IU soccer family. It was the perfect segue into the climax - his father, The Godfather, Jerry Yeagley.
The man who started it all and set the standard of excellence talked about his first club teams 60 years ago and brought it to the present, saying how much he enjoys watching over training sessions and interacting with members of the current team.
The program that he began in 1963, that gained varsity status in 1973 and won its first of eight national titles in 1982 is still going after them today. The 2022 team, the 50th Indiana men's soccer varsity team, earned the program's 22nd College Cup and 17th national final appearance - both are secure NCAA records.
Fifty years of excellence have come and gone in memorable fashion. The Indiana men's soccer program thanks its alumni, friends and fans for contributing to a culture of excellence and strives to keep that tradition alive for many years to come.