Josh Lenarz
Women’s Soccer Coach, Assistant Athletics Director
Josh Lenarz ‘98 has been the head coach of the women’s soccer program for 15 seasons. In his tenure he has accumulated a 221-99-25 career coaching record and is one of the most winning active coaches in the NAIA. Under his leadership the Trolls have become a front-runner in the conference, have earned national recognition as a national tournament qualifier, and have been in the NAIA Top 25 ratings. Last season he directed the team to a NCCAA National Championship appearance, an 11-7-3 overall record, and a 7-3-2 conference record.
Lenarz has led teams to the post-season national tournaments 10 times in the past 12 seasons. The Trolls have qualified for the NAIA National Championship three times. In the 2011 season the team, at 16-4-2, earned an at-large bid to the national tournament opening round. In 2008, in the program’s first-ever NAIA appearance, the team advanced to the Final Four and in 2009 they made it to the Sweet Sixteen.
In addition the Trolls have advanced to the NCCAA National Championships seven times with the latest appearance in the 2016 season. Earning Trinity’s first ever national title, the team claimed the championship in 2005. They finished in third place in each the 2007 and 2010 seasons.
Under his leadership the team has also earned conference regular season championship titles in the 2008 and 2009 seasons. In 2009 they also claimed the conference tournament title. In 2012 and in 2016 they were awarded the CCAC Karl Boeck Champions of Character Award.
Lenarz was named the CCAC Coach of the Year in 2008, 2009, and 2013. He has also been recognized as the NCCAA National Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2008, the NCCAA North Central Region Coach of the Year nine times, and the 2005 NAIA Region VII Coach of the Year. In 2016 he received the NISOA/NCCAA Frank Jewell Award for Christian character and integrity while coaching.
For the past ten years Lenarz has served as the NCCAA North Central Region women’s soccer sport chair and he continues to hold that position.
Lenarz graduated from Trinity with a degree in physical education and has a master’s degree in higher education- college student affairs from Azusa Pacific University. As a soccer player at Trinity, he earned all-conference honors for four years and was an NCCAA All-American three times. His coaching experience includes an USSF National Coaching License, four years as the assistant coach for Trinity’s men’s team, and two seasons as the varsity girls coach at Timothy Christian High School in Elmhurst, Illinois. He has also worked with the Chicago Gaels, a semi-professional women’s soccer team.
Lenarz is the assistant athletics director at the College. He and his wife Kelly and children Peyton, Casey, Dylan, and Ryder reside in Palos Heights, Illinois.