Dr. John Bratcher, head coach of the IWU women’s soccer team has been
selected by the NISOA (National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association)
as its recipient of the 2006 Collegiate National Merit Award. Each year
the award is given to one collegiate coach, and one high school coach whose
reputations are recognized as praiseworthy, and reflective of the highest standards
of professional and ethical behavior.
The award was presented at the NSCAA convention’s award banquet Friday
evening January 12, 2007 at the NSCAA Annual Convention in
Coach Bratcher, a member of the NCCAA Hall of Fame, notched his 400th
career win of his 26-year career during the 2006 season, and his overall
intercollegiate record now stands at 411-175-38. The 2006 season gave the
Wildcats their 5th consecutive MCC championship under Bratcher, and
in 2005, Coach Bratcher was named MCC Coach of the Year for the fourth time in
as many seasons at IWU. Bratcher has
twice been awarded the NCCAA National Coach of the year in 1982 and 1985.
In addition to his many accomplishments on the field, Bratcher has held
many positions in soccer administration as well. Bratcher has served as the MCC Women’s Soccer
Chair from 2002 to the present and prior to that he served as the TVAC and
TranSouth Conference Soccer Chair from 1990-1995 and 1996-2001 respectively. For seven years Bratcher has served on the
NSCAA Ethics Committee and in 1990 and 1991, he served as a National Referee
Camp Panel Member for NISOA.
Over the course of his career Bratcher has also been very involved in
community service both locally and throughout the world. He was on of the founders of the Greater
Cleveland, TN Soccer Association and served as a board member for 7 years. Bratcher has also served on international
mission trips 7 times.
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