American University announced Monday evening that it has parted ways with women’s soccer head coach Marsha Harper after six seasons, according to a press release sent out by the AU Athletics Department.
Named head coach in December 2019, Harper led American to its highest win total in the Patriot League in over a decade in 2023, finishing with a 3-9-4 record.
Following steady improvement in conference standings — from ninth in the standings in 2021 to eighth in 2022 and seventh in 2023 — Harper was given a three-year contract extension ahead of the 2024 season by former Director of Athletics Billy Walker. That year, the Eagles finished 2-5-2 in the Patriot League and 6-6-3 overall, tying for second-to-last in conference play.
In 2025, American endured a seven-game winless streak, lasting from Aug. 14 to Sept. 20. Harper led the team to a 3-5-1 record in Patriot League play this year. Across her six seasons, the Eagles never finished above .400 in the Patriot League, with an average of three games won per season from 2019 to 2025.
American closed the 2025 season in a narrow win against Bucknell in a 2-1 victory, snapping a four-game losing streak.
“I want to express my sincere appreciation for the dedication, energy, and effort Marsha has put into the program, and I wish her the best in her future endeavors,” Director of Athletics and Recreation JM Caparro said in today’s statement.
A national search will begin for the next women’s soccer coach immediately, according to the release.
This article was edited by Penelope Jennings and Walker Whalen. Copy editing done by Sabine Kanter-Huchting.
