Concordia Chicago names Marsha Panfil as women's soccer coach
RIVER FOREST, Ill. -- Concordia University Chicago announces the appointment of Marsha Panfil as head coach for the women's soccer team. Panfil succeeds Adam Nirenberg who coached the Cougar women during the 2007 season.

"I am happy to have this chance at coaching collegiate soccer, and I thank Concordia for giving me this opportunity," said Panfil. "Coaching in college, especially at the Division III level, is all about finding a good fit for the student-athlete, and I think there are many young women that would find Concordia's combination of tradition and friendly, personal attention an ideal place to play soccer and earn a degree."

Panfil, a native of south suburban Palos Park, attended Carl Sandburg High School and Illinois State University. However, most of Panfil's soccer education was self-taught in neighborhood pick-up games. She became further involved with the sport through coaching youth soccer and, in 1997, she joined the Hallmark Sports Club in Frankfort, Illinois as their Director of Indoor Programming. Within two years, Panfil began an association with the Chicago Magic Soccer Club (also based in Frankfort) during which time she coached ages 3-18, served as an assistant tournament director and headed up the recreational programs and summer camps.

In 2003, Panfil joined the staff of the University of Chicago Lab School where she reunited with athletic director Dave Ribbens, a former member of the Magic's staff and the Christian Coach of the Year in 2000 while at Trinity Christian College. Panfil coached middle school soccer and basketball (including some of the Magic's former players), developed youth soccer camps for ages 3-6 and served as a substitute teacher for grades K-12 at the Lab School. "My time at the lab school was very beneficial, not only because I could continue coaching soccer, but also because it allowed me to pursue some research projects with which I have remained involved," notes Panfil.

Panfil is not the only member of the family with a strong background in soccer. Her daughter Jamie, 18, was a soccer standout as a keeper at Lincoln-Way Central High School in New Lenox and will play Division I soccer this fall for Campbell University in North Carolina. Panfil also has a son Ryan, 20, who is currently stationed with the U.S. Marines in Iraq.

Courtesy of Concordia University Chicago, Sports Information Department, June 6, 2008.