On April 17, 2020, York College Assistant Dean for Athletics and Recreation Paul Saikia announced the hiring of Kelly Wakeman as the new women's soccer coach for the Spartans. Wakeman takes over for long-time head coach Vicki Sterner who announced her retirement in November after 24 years at the helm of the program.

Wakeman will be just the second head coach in the history of the Spartan program.

Wakeman comes to York with an extensive record of success and 12 years of collegiate head coaching experience. She most recently was the head coach at Muhlenberg College where the Mules went 16-15-4 during her tenure.

Wakeman inherited a team that advanced to the Capital Athletic Conference championship game as York went 9-13. The Spartans had eight one-goal losses during the campaign. Wakeman will welcome back eight starters including both goalkeepers and All-CAC defender Moriah Morton.

After having the 2020 season wiped out by COVID, the Spartans got back on the field in 2021 and advanced to their first MAC Commonwealth championship game. York finished with an overall mark of 13-7 including 5-3 in the Commonwealth regular season. Wakeman mentored four All-MAC Commonwealth selections as Caitlyn Findlay, Moriah Morton, Jenna Cholowinski, and Megan Stoltzfus were honored by the league.

The 2022 campaign was one of many firsts for the Spartans. York finished the year 12-5-4 with an appearance in the MAC Commonwealth championship game. The Spartans earned their first NCAA Division III Tournament at-large berth after making three previous appearances as the CAC Champion. The Spartans also knocked off #2 Messiah in the regular season, snapping the Falcons 150-game unbeaten streak in MAC Commonwealth play. The Spartans placed five players on the MAC All-Commonwealth squads as Makayla Harper, Erin Snyder, Moriah Morton and Jacqueline Keogh were first team honorees while Ashley Hudak was an honorable mention selection. 

Wakeman began her head coaching career at Montgomery College. In her first year, she took a team that had won one game in the previous season to a mark of 7-10. The Raptors then won 14 matches in back-to-back years. The program won a regional championship in 2008 and were national finalists in 2009. After a 17-win season and a regional championship in 2010, Wakeman led Montgomery to a national championship in 2011.

Wakeman then was hired at Ursinus College where she posted 38 wins in five years including a pair of Centennial Conference semifinal appearances in 2014 and 2015. Wakeman then headed to Widener for one year where the Pride went 12-7 and advanced to the ECAC Tournament in 2017.

Wakeman knows what she wants out of her Spartan squads.

"We want to develop a team culture that is relentless in its pursuit of excellence both on the field and in the classroom," says Wakeman. "Tough, competitive, caring student-athletes that want to maximize their potential, celebrate achievements, and be a part of a positive, focused environment are the type of athletes we want on the women's soccer team at York."

Wakeman is 25-12-4 heading into her third year with the fall of 2023. 

Overall Year by Year Records

Updated: 7/18/23