A living legacy for 28 years

Jerry Yeagley's career numbers define his success.\nThe IU men's soccer head coach has been at the helm of the soccer program for 28 years, and has never posted a losing season.\nDuring his tenure he has led IU to five national championships, 14 college cups, a 58-20 record in the NCAA tournament and eight Big Ten Championships. \nAnother number will soon be added to the already hearty list -- 500. \nWhen the Hoosiers defeated Penn State Friday, Yeagley's career victory total reached 499. He is one win away from becoming the second coach in collegiate soccer history to reach the 500 mark, joining legendary San Francisco coach Stephen Negoesco, whose team beat Yeagley's Hoosiers in three National Championship games.\nWhen Yeagley arrived in Bloomington in 1963 the soccer team wasn't as successful. That's because there was no soccer team, there was only a soccer club.\nYeagley came to IU after being hired as an assistant professor in the school of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. He was asked to supervise the soccer club on the side, but to Yeagley soccer wasn't merely an extracurricular activity.\n"My challenge was to get that club to become varsity as soon as possible," Yeagley said. "And I was encouraged that it could happen pretty quickly."\nIt didn't happen quickly.\nYeagley would have to petition the administration for 10 more years before the soccer team would achieve varsity status in 1973. \nAlthough it was discouraging to remain a club-level sport for so long, Yeagley said those years were invaluable to him in his growth as a coach.\n"I learned so many lessons during that period of time that I wouldn't have learned had (soccer) been varsity," Yeagley said. "As a club we had to do virtually everything from lining the field, to washing our own uniforms, to driving our own cars to the game. Nothing was done for us, and we learned not to take anything for granted."\nThe philosophy is still very important to Yeagley. Now the team is sponsored by Adidas, they have someone else do their laundry, the team flies or takes a bus to their away games and the university pays for everything. Despite all the perks, Yeagley said he remembers the days when things weren't so easy, and he makes sure his current team appreciates the luxuries that his club teams never thought possible. \nHe explained that he has based this winning tradition on holding himself and those around him to high expectations. These high expectations have attracted top athletes and assistant coaches to join him in Bloomington. But Yeagley is reluctant to take all the credit for his success.\n"These 500 victories, yeah, I get the credit for them," Yeagley said. "But the main credit should go to the players, the coaches (and) the support staff who have been there and were on the field and made (the victories) possible."\nThe players on the field for Yeagley this season reciprocate the praise he bestows upon them. Goalie Colin Rogers, a fifth year senior, has been on two of the Hoosiers five national champion teams. He said although Yeagley doesn't like to accept personal praise, his presence is felt around the soccer world.\n"He always does the little things," Rogers said. "A lot of what he does people can't see because he shies away from the spotlight. He's had a huge impact not only on Indiana soccer, but soccer in the U.S."\nYeagley's status in the soccer world has also intimidated some players. Brian Maisonneuve, who played for the Hoosiers from 1992 to 1996, admitted that he was scared of Yeagley until his senior year. He said the fear was because of the respect he had for Yeagley.\n"He's one of the best coaches in the country," said Maisonneuve, who now plays Major League Soccer for the Columbus Crew. "It was a great honor to play for him, he knows the game of soccer better than anyone."\nThursday, the Hoosiers will face the Butler Bulldogs at Bill Armstrong Stadium. The possibility of Yeagley's 500th win will be extra motivation for the Hoosiers, senior back Ryan Hammer said.\n"We always anticipate winning," Hammer said. "But I think this being his 500th win makes it even more special and makes us go out there and work even harder."\nRogers said 500 wins are a testament to Yeagley's hard work and dedication to the program.\n"I couldn't think of anyone else who deserves this more than him," Rogers said. "It will be a great honor to be on the field when he gets it"