Washington State soccer head coach Todd Shulenberger signs contract extension

PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University and Head Soccer Coach Todd Shulenberger agreed to a contract extension that will keep the coach on the Palouse through June of 2025. Cougars’ Director of Athletics Pat Chun officially announced the contract extension for Shulenberger, Thursday morning.

“Coach Shulenberger has built one of the premiere soccer programs in the country at Washington State University,” said Chun. “He continues to recruit and develop a program filled with extraordinary young women who have high character, are exceptional leaders, and strive to be the best in everything they do. We are fortunate to have him as our coach and look forward to achieving even greater heights with the future of WSU Soccer.”

In five seasons on the Palouse, Shulenberger has reshaped the Cougar program in his image, taking the Cougars among the elite programs in NCAA soccer. Throughout his tenure, the Cougars have won a record 61 games including posting a single-season record 16 wins in 2019. Every year the Cougars have rewritten their record books achieving heights not seen before at WSU. In 2019, the Cougs played their way to the program’s first College Cup, becoming the only program at Washington State to play their way to the final four in an NCAA Tournament in modern history. Along the way the Cougars defeated No. 14 Memphis (1-0), No. 3 Virginia (3-2), West Virginia (3-0), and No. 5 South Carolina (1-0, OT) in their run to the cup. Among those wins were victories over a No. 1 seed and No. 2 seed, both on the road in hostile environments in addition to wins over the AAC regular season champion, ACC tournament runner-up, and the SEC tournament champion. The season would come to an end in a hard fought, 2-1, loss to No. 2 North Carolina in the national semifinals. For their play, the Cougars would finish ranked No. 4 in the country, the highest ranking in program history.

In all, coach Shulenberger  became the first coach to lead the Cougars to three-straight first round wins in the NCAA and the only coach to lead the team to the third round of the NCAA Tournament both in 2017 and 2019. In 2018, the Cougars broke a number of program records including beginning the season a perfect 10-0, the best start and longest win-streak in program history. In all, the Cougars have advanced to the NCAA Tournament in four out of the five seasons with Shulenberger at the helm including three-straight.

“I would like to thank President Kirk Schultz, Athletic Director Pat Chun and Deputy Athletics Director Anne McCoy with their continued trust and commitment in me,” said Shulenberger. “This historic ride into the College Cup with my amazing staff and players was incredible. Cougar Soccer is now in the national spotlight and we are all very excited to move forward in the years to come. I am very thankful to be their leader and work for Washington State University. ”

The Cougars return eight of their 11 starters in 2019 including all-region honoree Brianna Alger and USWNT camp invitee Makamae Gomera-Stevens. The Cougs also welcome in a stellar recruiting class to bolster their ranks for another run at the College Cup.