Alma Mater: University of Virginia
Graduating Year: 1992
Experience: 5th Year
Coaching Career
2013-Present: Nebraska-Kearney (Head Coach)
2012: Nebraska-Kearney (Interim Head Coach)
2011-12: Kearney High School (Assistant Coach)
2007-10: D.C. United (Director of Youth Development)
2001: Virginia (Assistant Coach)
Coach Quote
"Work hard ....... and dreams become reality!"
John Maessner completed his fourth season as Nebraska-Kearney head women’s soccer coach with the end of the 2015 year.
Throughout his four seasons in Kearney, he has brought success and energy to a program that started in 2009.
He recorded the program's first winning season (9-7-2 in 2012), guided the Lopers to their first-ever postseason appearance (2013 MIAA Tournament) and seen team and individual school records fall.
Eight different players have been named to the All-MIAA team the past four years, including defender Sarah Talcott. She ended her career as a three-time all-conference pick and with UNK records for minutes played (6,047) and games played (72).
Her sister, Becka, was a two-time all-league selection who ended her career as UNK's all-time leader in points (42), goals (17) and game winning goals (10).
In 2015, Montanna Hosterman broke Talcott's goal and scoring records while becoming the program's first-ever all-region selection. The four-time team leader in points finished her career with 47 points on 18 goals and 11 assists.
Off the field, 32 Lopers have qualified for the MIAA Academic Honor Roll with four also being named an MIAA Scholar Athlete (over a 3.50 cumulative GPA and all-conference in the same season).
After having only one month to prepare for the 2012 season, Maessner led the Lopers to a school-record nine wins. Due to a tiebreaker, UNK fell short of qualifying for the conference tournament.
Besides the wins, the 2012 squad set program marks for points (75), goals (28), points per game (4.17) and goals per game (1.56).
Following the season, Maessner had the interim tag removed and was named head coach in February 2013.
Having a full off-season to prepare, he guided the Lopers to greater heights during the 2013 season.
UNK went 8-8-3, placing fifth in the MIAA, good enough to make the league tournament. To reach the postseason, Kearney went 3-0-1 over its last four games, winning once in double overtime.
New records included shots attempted (244), goals against average (1.05) and shut outs (eight).
In 2014, the Lopers battled a series of injuries but were still in the MIAA Tournament race much of the season. Four players were tabbed All-MIAA with the Lopers winning three times at home.
Last season, UNK won at Emporia State, 2-1, in the regular season finale to reach the MIAA tourney again. The Lopers went 2-3-2 with Hosterman and fourth-year junior Kadi Walaszczyk repeating as All-MIAA honorees.
Prior to his arrival, Maessner spent two seasons as an assistant girls soccer coach at Kearney High School.
From 2007-10, he was Director of Youth Development for D.C. United of Major League Soccer. In his role, Maesnner scouted the Washington D.C. area for top prep players to bring into the program, provided them with a year round professional environment with the end goal of developing top level players who would either go on to play for top collegiate programs or sign professional contracts with DC United.
In his four years, DC United’s Academy led the nation in players signing with top college programs and in players invited to U.S. Youth National team camps. They also won two MLS U17 Cups, and of the seven Academy players who have signed pro contracts with DC United, six were brought into the Academy by Maessner.
The two most recognizable Academy players making the jump to the first team are Bill Hamid and Andy Najar.
Hamid has been the starting keeper for the Black and Red over the past few seasons and is a U.S. National team member.
Najar was the 2010 MLS Rookie of the Year and the youngest athlete ever to be named Rookie of the Year in an American pro sport. He also is a Honduran National Team member and was sold to Anderlecht of the Belgian first division for a reported $ 3 million on Jan 30, 2013. Finally, he played for Honduras in the 2014 World Cup.
From 2002-03, he was the Developmental Director and Fundraiser for the Soccer Organization of Charlottesville-Albermarle (Va.). Maessner also served as an assistant coach at his alma mater, the U. of Virginia, in 201.
Following a standout prep career in which he was a Parade High School All-American, Maessner helped Virginia win the 1989 NCAA Championship. He also played for Team USA in the 1991 World University Games.
Maessner turned pro in 1991 and was a member of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the American Professional Soccer League.
For the next five years, he spent time playing in various leagues around the U.S. and Europe. In the 1994 FIFA World All-Star Game in Casa Blanca, Morocco, he scored the game-tying goal in front of 100,000 fans.
When MLS started in 1996, D.C. United acquired his rights. Maessner helped the team win the first the first two MLS titles and then he went on to play for the Miami Fusion.
He returned to D.C. in 1999, helping United win the title once again. He finished his career playing with the Tampa Bay Mutiny for the 2000 and 2001 seasons and retired as a player after the 2001 season.
A native of Hackensack, New Jersey, Maessner graduated Virginia in 1992. He holds the USSF A coaching license and a USSF youth license.
Maessner lives in Kearney with his wife, Christine, and their two children, Daisy and Miko.
YEAR BY YEAR WITH COACH MAESSNER
2012 9-7-2 (4-6-2) School-record win total
2013 8-8-3 (5-4-2) MIAA Tournament
2014 4-12-1 (4-9-1)
2015 5-10-4 (4-5-2) MIAA Tournament
Totals 26-37-11 (17-22-7)
