Chris Matejka named next head Men’s Soccer coach 

By Bud Denega 

ADA — Ohio Northern University named Chris Matejka its next head men's soccer coach Sunday. Matejka coached the Polar Bears this past fall as the interim head coach. 

"It's very special to be named the head coach at Ohio Northern," Matejka said. "I've been very loyal to this program. It's a program that I have a lot of memories with, and I look to create many, many more memories. Ohio Northern is a very special place. It's surrounded with outstanding people and amazing facilities. We have everything we need to be successful." 

Matejka will become ONU's third men's soccer head coach. He also played at Northern from 2009-12.

As a player, Matejka competed in 96 games, making 74 starts. He boasted 19 goals, logged 24 assists and tallied 62 points, and was named a D3Soccer.com All-American and Ohio Athletic Conference Midfielder of the Year as a senior. 

Matejka helped the Polar Bears advance to four consecutive National Tournaments, advancing to the National Championship match in 2012. He also played a prominent role in the program winning four straight OAC titles. 

Upon completing his undergraduate degree in creative writing in 2013, Matejka knew he wanted to remain close to the sport of soccer and has swiftly worked his way up the coaching ladder. 

"I wanted to stay in the game in some regard, and I think coaching was a way for me to gain a different perspective on the game," Matejka said.

Matejka and the Polar Bears ended the 2019 season with a 13-6-3 overall record. Northern closed the season, falling to St. Norbert (Wis.) in penalty kicks in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. 

In addition to being the interim head coach this past season, Matejka was also an assistant with the Polar Bears since 2013. He looks forward to his new title as head coach and continuing to build on the rich culture already in place at ONU while also putting his own stamp on the program.

"We want to maintain the values that have been set for many, many years — to be competitive on a national level," Matejka said. "For me, I want to make soccer at ONU about being a good person. It's more than just wins and losses. It's about working together to reach a common goal and consistently striving for success and greatness in the classroom and on the field."