Northwestern College Head Women’s Soccer Coach Ben Karnish has stepped down after a successful eight-year run as the leader of the Raider program. Karnish will be pursue other opportunities as he and his family move to the Twin Cities area in Minnesota.
Hired in 2013, Karnish holds the most wins in program history, going 70-66-10 during his eight years with the program. Raider teams qualified for postseason play in six of the eight seasons, finishing among the top five in the conference five times.
Karnish coached 34 all-conference players and 45 Raiders were named NAIA Scholar Athlete over the last seven seasons (note: postseason honors not released at this time for 2020). In addition, Northwestern was recognized as a NAIA Scholar Team every season under his leadership.
“I will be forever grateful for my time at Northwestern because of all the people here,” commented Karnish. “I am thankful for the students, our faculty and staff, the athletic department, and most importantly, the players I have been lucky enough to coach. This is a decision that we did not make lightly but we trust God’s plan for our family. I just want to say thank you for all who I crossed paths with over the years. Your kind words and actions have truly left an impact on my family and I.”
Karnish has also served in various roles on campus, most recently as an assistant in the sports information department. He also worked as a manager of the Rowenhorst Student Center and in the library. Karnish, a 2010 graduate, was a standout, four-year player for the men’s soccer team and was a key player in the 2007 team that qualified for the national tournament.
“Raider athletics thanks Ben and his family for the time they invested in our women’s soccer program and wish them the best in their future,” said Northwestern Vice President for Athletics Dr. Micah Parker. “A national search will begin immediately.”
