Steve Shelton has been named the Horizon League Coach of the Year for the 2024 season after leading the University of Detroit Mercy women’s soccer team to one of its most successful campaigns in recent memory.
Shelton, now in his sixth season at the helm of the Titans, guided the team to a record-breaking year, highlighted by key victories, a dominant defense and the emergence of star players. The Titans ended the regular season with a strong 9-7-2 record, significantly improving both their overall performance and their standing in the Horizon League. Their outstanding play throughout the season earned them the No. 3 seed in the Horizon League Tournament.
The Titans won a playoff game after defeating Purdue Fort Wayne at home in the quarterfinals.
While COY is a monumental accomplishment, Shelton is not blinking or stopping to smell the roses.
“It is nice to check that box, get it over with,” Shelton said. “It is a different game come playoff time. Every team is going to bring it, so to be able to come out with a victory over PFW I am simply happy with that and to get a chance at Northern Kentucky again.”
Now in his sixth season at the helm, Shelton has led the Titans back to the playoffs for the second season in a row, has had three first team all-league players and two first team all-freshman selections.
Shelton, a Grosse Ile native, took the Titans job after rebuilding Concordia University’s program and serving as an assistant at Ball State for three seasons.
Athletic director Robert Vowels was very complimentary of his hire, saying at the time Shelton got the job, “Steve is a young, energetic and local product who has already experienced a tremendous amount of success in his career, and his passion for coaching and mentoring student-athletes was evident from the start, and I believe he will be a great leader for the women’s soccer program.”
This hire shows that with time programs can be built at Detroit Mercy, something evident with Shelton. Led by All-league players in Abbey Lodato and Georgia transfer Joyelle Washington, this Titan has the future looking bright on campus.
