Western Michigan head women’s soccer coach Suzie Grech has stepped down to accept a coaching position at the University of Houston, joining Chris Pfau’s staff as the top assistant. Pfau was recently hired at Houston after serving as the head coach at Mid-American Conference counterpart Akron for four seasons.

“We have been extremely proud and honored to have Suzie as part of our staff over the past five years,” said WMU Athletic Director Kathy Beauregard. “She has done a tremendous job leading our program, guiding us to back-to-back MAC Championship game appearances the last two seasons, as well as great academic achievement. We wish Suzie continued success as she begins this next step in her career.”

“I want to thank Athletic Director Kathy Beauregard and Associate Athletic Director Dennis Corbin for their support during my time here at Western Michigan,” Grech stated. “I am very grateful for the opportunity to have served as head coach for the Broncos and for the incredible experience it has given me. I am sad to leave, however I know that I am leaving the program in a great place. I want to thank all that have helped build Western Michigan women’s soccer into a top program in the Mid-American Conference.”

Grech is coming off her third season as head coach at Western Michigan, where she put together one of the most successful three-year runs in program history, appearing in the MAC Tournament title game in 2010 & 2011. The Broncos improved their win total every season under Grech’s watch, tying the school record for most wins and most conference wins in a season this past year with a 14-8-0, 8-3-0 MAC record.

Grech mentored the program’s all-time leading goal scorer and 2010 MAC Player of the Year Stephanie Skowneski, also coaching eight All-MAC selections, as well as seven All-MAC Tournament Team and two All-MAC Freshmen Team selections. The women’s soccer team flourished in the classroom as well, as WMU was honored with the National Soccer Coaches Association of American Team Academic Award the last two seasons, carrying a team GPA of 3.64 this past year. Western Michigan had nine players named Academic All-MAC and produced the program’s first ever Academic All-America, Anina Cicerone, during Grech’s tenure.

Grech began as an assistant coach at Western Michigan in 2008, serving that role for two seasons before being promoted to interim head coach in December 2009 and full-time head coach before the 2010 season. Prior to Western Michigan, Grech was an assistant at Marshall for two seasons and coached at the high school level. She was a standout goalkeeper at the University of Michigan from 2000-2003.

A nationwide search to replace Grech at Western Michigan will commence immediately.