POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – Vassar College head men's soccer coach Andy Jennings has announced his retirement that will follow the end of the 2021-22 academic year. Jennings' 41st year at Vassar and his 31st at the helm of the Brewers men's soccer program will serve as the final one of his illustrious career dating back to 1981.

"I have coached some incredible men and women during my time at Vassar" stated Jennings "and I have been blessed to be connected to such a wonderful community.  It has helped define me and I hope I have been able to give something back."

As head coach of the Brewers from 1981 to 1985, 1989 to 1996, and from 2004 to this season, Jennings has compiled a 260-179-53 record and is the winningest men's soccer coach in Vassar history. In his first stint as the head coach he transformed Vassar into one of the Northeast region's premier teams, capturing two Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference regional championships, appearing in seven ECAC playoff championships, and winning three Suburban Conference titles.

"When I was offered the position at Vassar in 1981, I expected to stay for only a year or two," admitted Jennings.  "But I fell in love with the school.  I loved the diversity, the independent thought and the value that was placed on questioning." 

Jennings, who served as Vassar's Director of Athletics from 1990 until 2004, returned to fulltime coaching at the start of the 2004 season. Over the last few seasons, he has transformed Vassar into a formidable team against non-league opponents and particularly inside the highly-competitive Liberty League, widely considered one of the top leagues in the country.

A three-time Liberty League Coach of the Year, Jennings has led his Brewers squad to the playoffs nine of the last ten years, the conference championship game four times, including the league crown in 2011 and 2016, as well as a regular season title in 2012. The 2011 squad advanced to the NCAA Championship for the first time since the 1999 season, repeating with an At-Large bid in 2012 and earning a First Round game, before returning to the NCAA's in 2016.

In 2018, Jennings picked up his 250th career win when the Brewers defeated Skidmore 1-0 in double overtime on October 6. Vassar went 10-5-3 in 2017, and in 2016 the Brewers finished with a 14-4-2 record – which tied the all-time high for wins. The season also marked Vassar's second Liberty League Championship title when the team downed Skidmore 3-2 on Gordon Field in the championship game making the Brewers one of only three Liberty League teams to win the Championship multiple times. 

"The goal was always to leave the soccer team in a better position than I found it and I feel we have accomplished this," said Jennings.  "The future is bright for the team – we have some real quality in the younger classes and I know they will accomplish a lot."

Since returning as the head coach in 2004, Jennings has produced over 50 All-Liberty League Selections, including a league Player of the Year, three Defensive Players of the Year and a Rookie of the Year. Nine have earned All-Region honors, one garnered All-American, three were CoSIDA Academic All-District choices, nine named NSCAA (now United Soccer Coaches Association) Scholar Athletes and one was a CoSIDA Academic All-American. Jennings's Brewers have earned the United Soccer Coaches Association Team Academic Award (formerly, NSCAA Team Academic Award) in all but two seasons during his career.  

"I have been fortunate to enjoy many highlights during my time at Vassar but being able to coach my sons, Gavin and Stephen, while they played for championship winning teams was very special," said Jennings.

In addition to the men's soccer program, Jennings also served as head coach of the women's golf program from 2004 to 2007, 20014 to 2019. The program, under the tutelage of Jennings, began with just one player in 2003 but just four years later was rewarded with an invite to the 2007 NCAA Championship where the Brewers finished 16th in the country.

Jennings holds the distinction of being the only head coach at Vassar to qualify for the NCAA Championships in two different sports and separate genders.

A common thread within the soccer and golf programs throughout Jennings' tenure has been a commitment to Community Service.  "Athletic participation at a place like Vassar is never simply about playing the game and the wins and losses.  Although athletic success must be a central tenant there has to be more to it than just that." Jennings adds "The student-athlete experience is critical and it has always been my goal to provide an environment in which the positive benefits of athletic participation are maximized." 

From 1990 to 2004 Jennings served as Vassar's Director of Athletics. Beginning with a department of 18 sports programs with 276 student-athletes and 12 full-time departmental employees, he helped guide Vassar Athletics into a new era. By the 2004 season, Jennings' department offered 25 sports programs with 435 student-athletes and 29 full-time department employees.

During this time he also served as the department liaison/project manager for a number of significant athletic facility construction projects including; a $16M addition to the field house (2000), a $2.5M locker facility for outdoor sports (2003) plus other facility improvements and renovations, including the Rosemaniere Gordon Squash Courts, purchase of the land on the Hudson River for the rowing program, and the Athletic and Fitness Center.

Jennings served as the Project Manager for the $7.6 million refurbishing of Prentiss Complex. The facility now includes a state-of-the-art soccer field and practice fields, lighted artificial turf field, a new baseball field, as well as the J L Weinberg Field Sport Pavilion with a new sports medicine area and locker rooms adjacent to the fields.

"Much has changed within the athletics program but one constant has been the enduring quality of the people within the department and I have really appreciated working with them on a daily basis," stated Jennings.  "I would especially like to thank those that have coached with me throughout my time here – they have been intimately involved, and were very much responsible, for any success we have enjoyed."

During the early years at Vassar Jennings coached the Women's Rugby team, was the assistant Squash Coach and also taught classes in the Department of Physical Education.   A qualified Football Association coach, Jennings has directed numerous soccer camps, has worked with both the United States Soccer Federation and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, and coached youth soccer in the mid-Hudson valley. During his playing days, he played semi-professionally in England and also represented England Universities.

Jennings graduated from Exeter University in England with a Bachelor of Education, received his Masters degree from the College of William and Mary in Virginia and his PhD in Sport Psychology from the University of Maryland.

"I am excited for the next phase of my life - I still have a lot that I want to pursue and relish the challenge and enjoyment of making it all happen."