Longtime Men’s Soccer Coach Stepping Down

Following 29 total seasons at the helm of the Seattle University men's soccer program, Head Coach Pete Fewing announced April 4 that he is stepping down from his coaching position and will transition to an Associate Athletic Director role with the Redhawk Athletics administrative staff. Longtime Associate Head Coach Nate Daligcon has been named the new head coach, effective immediately.

Daligcon, who started as an Assistant Coach in 2013 before being elevated to Associate Head Coach in July 2014, becomes the 10th head coach in the program’s 56-year history.

“Pete has given his heart and soul to Seattle University men’s soccer,” says Director of Athletics Shaney Fink. “We are grateful for his contributions and appreciate the indelible impact he has had on the community. He has us well positioned for a bright future.”

Fewing’s tenure on the pitch at Seattle U includes an 18-year run from 1988 through 2005, followed by 11 seasons from 2012 through the fall of 2022. He departs the sideline with a career record of 343-197-50, ranking him among the all-time winningest coaches in NCAA men’s soccer, including the 11th-most wins among active Division I coaches through the 2022 season.

“I have had many conversations with Shaney Fink in recent months and the pieces have fallen into place to make this the right time to make this move,” Fewing says. “I am excited and eager to support the university and athletic department in a new, expanded role. I have always considered myself a builder and this will be a great opportunity to use those skills."

Fewing won two national championships—the 1997 NAIA National Championship and the 2004 NCAA Division II National Championship—and earned National Coach of the Year honors each championship season. Six times he was named Coach of the Year, Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Coach of the Year recognition three times and Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Coach of the Year three times.

“I am torn by my decision as I have been a coach for 36 years, including 29 at Seattle University,” Fewing says. “I have a lifetime of memories from incredible games against the best competition in the nation. The wins were wonderful and the losses came with valuable lessons and heartache, but it is the people I will remember the best and appreciate the most.”

New Head Coach Daligcon was Fewing’s lead assistant for the last decade as the pair coached their way to three Western Athletic Conference regular season titles, five WAC Tournament titles and five NCAA Tournament appearances. Fewing and Daligcon developed three All-Americans, 24 All-Region selections, one WAC Offensive Player of the Year, four WAC Defensive Players of the Year, eight WAC All-Freshman of the Year, 44 All-WAC selections and 59 Academic All-WAC honorees. Since 2017, seven players have been selected in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft.

“I am thrilled to elevate Nate Daligcon to the position of Head Coach,” Fink says. “Nate embodies the mission and values of Seattle University and has proven himself ready to lead our team into the next era of Seattle University men's soccer.”

Says Daligcon, “I am humbled and honored to lead such a tradition rich program. This opportunity connects everything that I love about college athletics—being able to work at a great university, help student athletes grow on and off the field and compete for championships. We will have high expectations for the continued growth of the program.

“I would like to thank President Eduardo Peñalver and Director of Athletics Shaney Fink for entrusting me with this opportunity to lead the Seattle University men's soccer program. “I would also like to thank Coach Fewing for being a great mentor the last 10 years and helping to prepare me for this role.”

Prior to Seattle U, Daligcon was a head coach for local club teams Seattle United and Emerald City FC and is currently on the coaching staff for Crossfire Premier. He also served as an assistant men's soccer coach at Seattle Pacific from 2007-2012.

“Nate will be an excellent leader for this program,” says Fewing. “He has the highest of character, work ethic and commitment to developing young people, and is passionate about the game.”

Read more about about Coach Fewing and Daligcon.