Lombardo's coaching record speaks for itself

Courtesy of Sports Media Relations Dave Lombardo has a 172-110-17 career record at JMU.

Living proof that a team’s success stems from its coaching staff, women’s soccer coach Dave Lombardo has guided the Dukes to 12 winning seasons in his 15-year tenure at JMU.

Not only did Lombardo just earn his 250th career win last season, currently, he also is ranked seventh all-time for NCAA Division I coaches in wins and 49th in career winning percentage. Lombardo is the only women’s soccer coach JMU has known since the program’s start in 1990. He holds a 172-110-17 record at JMU and has brought the university’s name to national attention.

"Before I came to JMU, coaching was a part-time job and I had some success," Lombardo said. "I wanted to know how good a program could be if I just focused my time on coaching, so I became the first coach of women’s soccer at JMU."

For 14 years, the Dukes have been ranked regionally. They were runner-up in the Eastern College Athletic Conference in both 1991 and 1993. The excellence continued on a national spectrum as the team made its first NCAA tournament appearance in 1995 after winning the CAA. In 1996, the team went to the NCAA round of 16, only to be defeated by the University of North Carolina, who eventually became national champions. Lombardo was named Virginia Coach of the Year in 1995 and ‘96.

"He’s been very successful because he relates well with the players and coaching staff," assistant coach Rebecca Lisack said. "He is so open-minded about new players and new systems. He is very accepting to new ideas and keeps the program fresh."

In 2001, Lombardo was asked to be an observer coach for the U.S. National Women’s Team. He traveled with the team to Portugal for a seven-day tournament. The next year, the Dukes recaptured the conference title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament, upsetting the University of Charlotte.

This year, the team opened its first five games with a 3-2 record against non-conference teams, after completing a spring season at 8-1-3.

"He’s like a father to us; I am from Ohio and he has helped me adjust so much," junior midfielder Karly Skladany said. "He is a coach on the field, but then a father figure off the field."

Lombardo’s coaching experience prior to JMU is just as impressive. He was head coach of Keene State, a Division II school in New Hampshire. In 1983, he was named Metro Life National Coach of the Year and New England Women’s Intercollegiate Soccer Association Coach of the Year.

Under his guidance, Keene State won the ECAC Division II championship in 1986 and 1987, after finishing second in 1985. He took the team to the NCAA 12-team open tournament and was the only Division II team there. He left the school as an inductee into the Keene State Sports Hall of Fame.

.