THANK YOU COACH YEAGLEY

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- It was Sept. 18, and IU had just lost a heartbreaker to Notre Dame in double overtime, 1-0. The players were dejected, and IU coach Jerry Yeagley said it was a game the Hoosiers should have won.\nThat was IU's last loss of the season.\nIn less then three months, Yeagley crafted a young team into an experienced team destined to send Yeagley out as a champion.\n"Anytime you win a National Championship, and this is our 23rd National Championship at IU, it is a moment of high achievement," said IU Athletic Director Terry Clapacs. "It is in part a bittersweet championship, because in a sense we take great joy in celebrating with Yeagley, but we also know this truly was his final game for IU. That makes it a little sad at the same time."\nWhen IU started the season 2-3-4, Yeagley told his team he wanted to have the best turnaround in the history of the program.\nYeagley, the winningest coach in Division I Soccer history, added another prolific chapter to the IU men soccer history books Sunday in the National Championship game, which IU won 2-1 over St. John's.\nYeagley claimed his sixth National Championship in his final game on the sidelines as a coach. \n"I'm not ready to (retire) yet. Just give me a few days," Yeagley said. "(ESPN) asked me that after the game on national television, and I was a bit numb and I still am. I've been trying not to think about me because it is about this team and these guys."\nOn Dec. 3, the NCAA announced that Yeagley was the all-time winningest coach in Division I soccer history. Sunday's win marked Yeagley's 544th career victory. \nIU assistant coach Mike Freitag will take over as head coach beginning next season. Freitag has been an assistant under Yeagley for the past 11 seasons. \nJust when you think Yeagley's teams can't do anything more remarkable, they do something more amazing and astounding. Sunday, they managed to save the best for last. They sent their coach -- whom they refer to as their father -- out as a winner. \n"The pride and the tradition of the uniform is a big 'X' factor that you can't quantify, but it was big part of the championship and will continue to be for IU soccer in the future," Yeagley said. "That's what I am most proud of -- that I've been there for that tradition and through the development of that tradition."\n-- Contact staff writers Daniel Cohen and Zack Eldridge at djcohen@indiana.edu and zeldridg@indiana.edu.