Meehl resigns after 17 seasons
Triangle Sports Desk
Issue date: 12/4/09 Section: Sports
After 17 seasons as head coach of the Drexel men's soccer team, Lew Meehl is finally calling it a career.
Meehl, the winningest coach in program history, resigned Nov. 27 after amassing 133 victories over the duration of his tenure at Drexel, which began in 1993.
At this point, no decision has been made as to who will replace him.
"For the last 40 years as a player and a coach, soccer has been a huge part of my life," Meehl said. "I feel the time has come for me to devote more time to my family and my grandchildren. It has been a great experience at Drexel. The commitment of our athletic administration has been exceptional. My assistant coaches, Woody Hartman and Rick Tompkins, were a big part of the success we have had here at Drexel."
Meehl, a three-time Colonial Athletic Association Coach of the Year and five-time Philadelphia Soccer Six Coach of the Year while at Drexel, had 23 players named to all-conference teams.
He guided the Dragons to the 1998 America East Championship, the 1995 North Atlantic Conference regular-season championship and, most recently, the 2007 CAA regular-season title.
"Drexel Athletics would like to thank Lew Meehl for his 17 years of service," Drexel Athletic Director Eric Zillmer said. "We appreciate everything he has done and all of his hard work over the years. We wish him the best in the future."
Meehl entered his final season as one of the NCAA's top 40 winningest active coaches. However, his team went just 5-12-1 in 2009.
He finished his 26 year Philadelphia coaching career, split between Drexel and Philadelphia Textile (now Philadelphia University), with a record of 236-202-54.
Meehl's resignation goes into effect starting Dec. 31.
Meehl, the winningest coach in program history, resigned Nov. 27 after amassing 133 victories over the duration of his tenure at Drexel, which began in 1993.
At this point, no decision has been made as to who will replace him.
"For the last 40 years as a player and a coach, soccer has been a huge part of my life," Meehl said. "I feel the time has come for me to devote more time to my family and my grandchildren. It has been a great experience at Drexel. The commitment of our athletic administration has been exceptional. My assistant coaches, Woody Hartman and Rick Tompkins, were a big part of the success we have had here at Drexel."
Meehl, a three-time Colonial Athletic Association Coach of the Year and five-time Philadelphia Soccer Six Coach of the Year while at Drexel, had 23 players named to all-conference teams.
He guided the Dragons to the 1998 America East Championship, the 1995 North Atlantic Conference regular-season championship and, most recently, the 2007 CAA regular-season title.
"Drexel Athletics would like to thank Lew Meehl for his 17 years of service," Drexel Athletic Director Eric Zillmer said. "We appreciate everything he has done and all of his hard work over the years. We wish him the best in the future."
Meehl entered his final season as one of the NCAA's top 40 winningest active coaches. However, his team went just 5-12-1 in 2009.
He finished his 26 year Philadelphia coaching career, split between Drexel and Philadelphia Textile (now Philadelphia University), with a record of 236-202-54.
Meehl's resignation goes into effect starting Dec. 31.
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