As the 2010-2011 school year ended,
the Northland International University Athletic Department faced the
challenge of finding a new women’s soccer coach. For the last four years, Brent Casteel manned
the reins of the Pioneer Program and helped build a solid foundation for
women’s soccer. However, Coach Casteel faced
a difficult spring in 2010, as his father was battling cancer. Coach Casteel felt it best
to move down to the Orlando, Florida, area to help his parents. Right before school ended, Coach Casteel’s
dad passed away, and the Casteel family is now helping Brent’s mom in
Florida. Northland's Athletic Director Pete Wehry stated, “Brent did a wonderful job here at Northland, and we are
sad to see him go. Our thoughts and
prayers are with his family as they minister to his mom.”
With an unexpected hole to be filled in Northland's Athletic Department,
the Northland family looked inward and found a great replacement in Nathan
Chatfield. In the two years since graduating from Northland in 2009, Nathan has served as the
men’s soccer assistant coach, women’s soccer assistant coach, and women’s
basketball assistant coach. Coach
Wehry is extremely excited that Nathan has joined the Northland coaching
family. “Nathan comes with high credentials.
He is one of the top soccer players in Northland history [91 goals and 78
assists], was a three-time NSCAA Adidas First Team All-American, and was a team
leader here at Northland. I believe this
reveals an evidence of Nathan’s passion for the game. He has been involved in soccer his whole life,
and it’s a family passion from his dad all the way down to his youngest
brother. Yet, even more important than
that passion for soccer, I believe Nathan will bring a great passion for our
young ladies to grow in Christ. Nathan
will do a wonderful job recruiting, teaching the game, and he will be
tactically strong. I think our women’s
soccer program will take even greater steps this year and I believe that Nathan
with the Lord’s help can bring that to fruition.”
Coach Chatfield will be assisted by Miss
Shannon Murdock, a 2010 graduate of Northland.
Shannon was a four-year starter for Northland and an all-region
player.
Nathan married his wife, Tiffany, in January 2009, and they rejoiced in the birth of their first child, Eliana Lou, in
March 2011. He currently works in the
Admissions office as the Admissions Advisor in addition to coaching the women's soccer team. Coach
Chatfield stated, “I am excited about pursuing God’s will for my life, and I am
passionate about using the platform of athletics to fulfill the Great
Commission and to disciple whoever the Lord chooses to bring into my life.”
The Northland women’s soccer preseason
has just begun; the team will host Faith Baptist Bible College on Friday,
September 9, at 4:30 p.m. at the Pioneer Soccer Complex.