Notre Dame soccer: ND's Waldrum leaves for pro soccer job

Randy Waldrum, head women's soccer coach at the University of Notre Dame since 1999 and the architect of Fighting Irish national championship teams in 2004 and 2010, announced his resignation on Friday to become the head coach of the Houston Dash of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).

Houston is an expansion franchise in the second-year U.S. women's professional soccer league.

Notre Dame assistant coaches Dawn Greathouse and Corey Holton will share oversight of the Fighting Irish program's day-to-day operations on an interim basis while a national search is conducted to identify Waldrum's successor.

"Randy has taken our women's soccer program to new heights, both on the field and in the classroom," said Jack Swarbrick, University vice president and director of athletics. "He has been such a great leader for us, precisely because he built a truly elite program in a way that reflects Notre Dame's core values."

Waldrum, age 57, said that returning to Texas to be closer to family was a prime reason for his decision. He is a native of Irving, Texas, and he and his wife, Dianna, have a son, Ben, who now makes his home in the Dallas-Fort Worth area with his wife, Lindsey.

"This is a very difficult day for me as I'm leaving the absolute best university in the country, yet excited about a new challenge that lies before me," Waldrum said. "I want to thank (University President) Father Jenkins and Jack Swarbrick for all they have done for me over the years and for supporting our program in a way that has allowed us to be one of the premier programs in the country."

A two-time National Coach of the Year and the winningest coach in program history, Waldrum compiled a 292-58-17 (.819) record in his 15 seasons at Notre Dame.