Wisconsin Soccer Central

For the second time in three years, Lakeland is looking for a new soccer coach.

Tony Pierce, the former Milwaukee Wave standout goalkeeper who coached the Muskies' men's and women's teams for the past two seasons, resigned from the Sheboygan college earlier this month.

A news release from the school indicated Pierce was leaving to pursue opportunities closer to his home in Green Bay.

"Coaching the men's and women's programs at Lakeland has been privilege and I am thankful for the opportunity," Pierce said in the release.

Pierce led the Muskies men's team to an 11-17-7 record, including an 8-8-6 mark in Northern Athletics Conference play. The Lakeland women were 10-27-0 overall and 8-16-0 in NAC action under Pierce, a member of the Wave Hall of Fame.

Last fall, the men's team was 8-7-3 overall and tied for sixth in the NAC at 5-4-2, while the women's team was 4-13-0 and ninth in the conference with a 4-8-0 mark.

"We thank Tony for his dedication to the program over the past two years and wish him all the best on his future endeavors," Lakeland athletic director Jane Bouche said. "Both programs have solid foundations, and I'm confident we will attract a coach that will help our programs continue to grow."

• Sam Schroeder was officially named the Ripon men's coach – he served as the team's interim coach for the final five games of the 2011 season, taking over when Lance Gordon resigned for health-related reasons. The Red Hawks finished 4-11-3 overall and 2-6-1 in the Midwest Conference, losing their final six matches. Schroeder, who previously was an assistant at Lakeland and the boys and girls coach at Plymouth High School, also is the school's women's coach and led the team to a program-best 7-10-1 overall record (4-4-1 Midwest) last fall in his first season. "Sam has done an exceptional job in his one season as our women's soccer coach and I have full confidence that he will do just as good a job with the men's program," Ripon athletic director Julie Johnson said in a news release.