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University of Wisconsin-Superior Athletics

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Wisconsin-Superior
Yellowjackets
Joe Mooney

Joe Mooney

Joe Mooney enters his 18th season as the head coach of the Yellowjacket men's soccer team in 2025. He is currently the all-time leader in wins in program history.

The 2024 campaign saw Mooney bring the program to new heights. Superior claimed its eighth consecutive Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament while picking up its second national poll ranking in program history. In the first round, Superior took down No. 9-ranked North Park 1-0 to move into the second round. Taking on regional-host RV St. Olaf, the Yellowjackets and Oles played to a 2-2 draw in full time and two overtime sessions, but UWS prevailed in penalty kicks, winning 4-2 and becoming the first team in program history to compete in the Sweet Sixteen. The following weekend Superior took on No. 8 Amherst, and both teams played to a 2-2 draw in regulation. As time ticked off the scoreboard both teams were nearing penalty kicks, but the Mammoths triggered the golden goal to move on with a score of 3-2. Following the season, the Yellowjackets were the 12th ranked team in all of NCAA Division III and finished as one of the strongest offenses in the country.

UMAC championships are no stranger to the Yellowjackets under Mooney, as in 2023 his squad captured their seventh-straight title and yet another NCAA Regional berth by defeating Bethany Lutheran 1-0. Karsten Kletti found the back of the net in the 40th minute on his way to being named the UMAC Tournament MVP, while Mooney was named the conference's coach of the year for the fifth time. UWS capped its season at 17-4-2, boasting a 13-1 record in circuit action. The Yellowjackets ended 2023 leading nearly all major catagories across the UMAC, while leading all of NCAA Division III in shots per game (21.96), shots on goal per game (11.57), along with a share of first place in penalty kicks. Eight members received All-UMAC citations, while Josh Bellamy, Felipe Oliveira and Alex Hanson were slated to the United Soccer Coaches Region IX squad. Furthermore, Mooney picked up his 200th career victory at the helm following a 7-0 rout of Martin Luther.

In 2022, Mooney guided UWS to another UMAC championship. The Yellowjackets earned their sixth consecutive title with a 3-0 victory over Bethany Lutheran. A plethora of accolades came at the end of the campaign, with nine players earning All-UMAC honors, five named to the College Sports Communicator (formerly known as CoSIDA) Academic All-District Team, three named to the United Soccer Coaches All-Region squad, Blake Perry named United Soccer Coaches Second Team All-America, Blake Hanson named to the CSC Academic All-America Third Team, and five players named ot the United Soccer Coaches All-Wisconsin Team. Mooney was also named UMAC Coach of the Year for the fourth time at the helm. 

UWS earned no fewer than six NCAA Division III team statistical championships in 2021, leading the country in total goals (101), total assists (88), total points (290), scoring offensive (4.39 goals per game), assists per game (3.38) and points per game (12.61). Individually, Blake Perry led Division III in total assists (20) and total points (58), while Perry enters his final season in 2022 as the program's all-time leader in goals in a career with 58. Mooney was named UMAC Coach of the Year for the third time and Bellamy claimed league Rookie of the Year honors. 

Mooney guided the Yellowjackets to their fourth UMAC championship in a condensed 2021 spring season due to the COVID-19 pandemic with a 11-1-0 record, including a 8-0-0 mark in league play. UWS led NCAA Division III in goal differential (47), goals (55), assists (53) and points (163). in addition, goalkeeper Ulrik Lager and midfielder Miguel Ocampo led the nation in shutouts (eight) and assists (10), respectively. In all, nine players were named to the All-UMAC teams, while defender Scott Wilson earned UMAC Defensive Player of the Year and forward Phillip Eriksen took home UMAC Rookie of the Year honors.

Mooney's 'Jackets won their third UMAC championship in 2019, advancing to the regional championship round for the second consecutive season. UWS went 17-3-3 on the way to defeating No. 14 Central, 3-2, Nov. 16 before drawing with regional-host and 16th-ranked Luther, 1-1, failing to advance on penalties. Mooney again claimed UMAC Coach of the Year honors while Eric Watson was named Offensive Player of the Year and A.J. Olson Defensive Player of the Year. In all, eight players were named to the all-UMAC teams. Olson, Watson and Blake Perry were also named to the United Soccer Coaches All-region third team. Additionally, Watson was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America® Second Team, the first men's soccer player in school history to earn the honor.

Mooney led UWS to its second UMAC title in 2018, as the Yellowjackets topped St. Scholastica, 3-1. The 'Jackets then claimed their first NCAA tournament victory in program history, 2-1, over Augsburg at the St. Thomas Regional. The season came to close at 19-3-1 overall after a 5-0 loss to the Tommies the next day. UWS was 11-0-1 in the conference, going unblemished in the UMAC for the first time in school history, and putting together a 19-match unbeaten streak, which included a stretch of 14 without a loss.

Mooney's 2018 team was second in the NCAA in total assists (68) and assists per game (2.96), sixth in points (206), seventh in goals (69) eighth in points per game (8.96) and 14th in goals per game (3.0).

In 2017, their third season in the league, the Yellowjackets captured the UMAC Championship over St. Scholastica, advancing on penalties following a 2-2 draw.

In 2013, Mooney guided the Yellowjackets to a 12-6-3 mark and numerous times during the year the team was ranked nationally in the top 25. In the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) postseason Mooney's Yellowjackets won two road playoff games, at UW-Whitewater and UW-Oshkosh on the way to winning the inaugural WIAC championship. The team was inducted to the UW-Superior Athletic Hall of Fame in 2019.
 
Mooney began his coaching career at Spooner (Wis.) High School, where he was an assistant coach with the boys' soccer team. After three years, he became the head coach of the Rails girls' team, a position he held for two seasons. In 2007 Mooney came to UW-Superior to be a volunteer assistant coach for the men's soccer team under former head coach, Chris Perez.

Mooney's players have enjoyed tremendous success individually, with various players earning all-conference honors in either the WIAC or UMAC. Additionally, Mooney has helped mold his players into defensive stalwarts, with Matt Kelley (WIAC 2013), Joey Gustafson (UMAC 2015), and Hugo Roos (UMAC 2016), Jonah Garcia (UMAC 2017) and Olson (UMAC 2018 and 2019) and Scott Wilson (UMAC 2020) earning conference Defensive Player of the Year honors. 
 
After coaching the Yellowjackets to a 2013 WIAC championship, Mooney was named the WIAC Men’s Soccer Coach of the Year and NSCAA Division III All-Wisconsin Coach of the Year. 

Mooney was a four-year letter winner for the Yellowjackets, starting on the men's soccer team from 2001-05 as a midfielder. He was a team captain for three of those seasons. Additionally, he spent three months in 2003 playing with the Newtongrange Star, a Division I team based in Newtongrange, Scotland.

A Broad-Field Social-Studies Education major, Mooney graduated from UW-Superior in 2006. He went on to complete his masters degree in teacher leadership at Silver Lake College in Manitowoc, Wis., in 2011. He also holds a USSF National “B” license.

Mooney currently resides in Superior with his wife, Rachael, and daughters, Alexa and Kayla and Leah.
 
Mooney at UW-Superior
Year W L T Pct.
2008 9 9 1 .500
2009 7 9 3 .447
2010 11 7 2 .600
2011 12 6 2 .650
2012 12 6 2 .650
2013 12 6 3 .643
2014 9 10 1 .475
2015 16 6 0 .727
2016 13 7 1 .643
2017 14 7 2 .608
2018 19 3 1 .848
2019 17 3 3 .804
2020 11 1 0 .916
2021 16 7 0 .696
2022 16 4 2 .773
2023 17 4 2 .783
2024 18 4 3 .783
Total 229 99 28 .682