For the first time in more than two decades, the Duke women’s soccer team will have a new coach in 2025.
Robbie Church, who first took over the program in July 2001, revealed on Monday that the 2024 season would be his last with the team. He cited spending more time with his family, including his wife and two children, as motivation for the decision.
“I feel like the past 23 years I’ve been the luckiest person in the world,” Church said in a release announcing the decision. “It’s been a great career and ride. I’ve enjoyed it, but like everything it must come to an end and I feel personally for myself, it’s just time.”
Church won 293 games over the last 23 seasons, including 41 NCAA Tournament victories and two ACC regular-season titles (2011 and 2017). He earned ACC Coach of the Year honors for both seasons and was named the Soccer America National Coach of the Year in 2011.
Just because Church already has one eye on his post-Duke life doesn’t mean he’s less invested in the 2024 season, however. He made that very clear in his statement.
“My retirement will start after our final match of the 2024 season and I hope that isn’t until December,” Chuch said. “I am all in this year and I’m excited about this team. I think we have great potential and we can be one of the best teams in the country.”
Throughout his career, Robbie Church has been more than a coach; he has been a mentor, an inspiration, and a pure champion.
Here’s to one final year of a legacy of excellence. Cheers to you, Coach!📰 https://t.co/xgmi8SC5XE pic.twitter.com/mHUJaIxUTk
— Duke Women's Soccer (@DukeWSOC) July 23, 2024
The team didn’t need to look far for Church’s replacement. Associate head coach Kieran Hall, who joined the program six seasons ago, will take over once Church steps aside.