Jake Slemker

Jake Slemker was named head coach of the Wright State men's soccer program in July of 2018 after being involved as a player, assistant coach and associate head coach for the Raiders...

During his time on the WSU staff, the Raiders have risen to new levels of excellence, advancing to six Horizon League finals, posting six double digit winning seasons, the first ever Horizon League Championship Title for the Raiders and advancing to the Second Round of 2019 Division I Men’s Soccer Championship, after defeating Notre Dame 3-2 in the opening round.

2019 would be a season for the history books as it marked the sixth straight season that would see the Raiders finished in double-figures wins (11-8-4). The Raiders would continue on their historic run that would see a trio of firsts: first Horizon League Championship, first NCAA Championship appearance and first NCAA Championship win (over Notre Dame 3-2) while advancing to the second round of the NCAA Championship, battling 13th-seeded Michigan through a scoreless 110 minutes before a final verdict was decided by penalty kicks.

The 2019 season would also see a number of accolades roll in for their work on the pitch with Deri Corfe being named to the Horizon League’s All-Conference first team while Jackson Dietrich and Stefan Rokvic were named to the second team. These wouldn’t be the last of the awards for Corfe and Dietrich as each were named to the All-Ohio Men’s Division I team. Corfe was also named to the United State Coaches All-North region first team. Dietrich was chosen to the second team.

Deri Corfe was selected 41st overall with the 15th selection in the second round of the 2020 Major League Soccer Super Draft by the New York Red Bulls. Marking just the fifth time in program history that a Raider player has been drafted.

2018 marked the fifth straight season that the Raiders finished in double-figure wins (13-3-3) as the first year head coach was chosen as Coach of the Year by the league after leading his team to its best regular season record in program history and a regular season Horizon League championship. The same season would a Raider team ranked as high as No. 11 in the country but Top Drawer Soccer. Seven different Raiders were honored by the Horizon League. Dan Bent, Joel Sundell, Alec Philippe and Jackson Dietrich were all named to the first team as Bent was named the Defensive Player of the Year and Sundell was named the Goalkeeper of the Year. Stefan Rokvic and Deri Corfe were selected to the second team as Simar Perez was chosen to the freshman team. Bent was named to the United States Coaches All-North Region first team while Dietrich and Corfe were selected to the second team.

2017 marked the fourth straight season that the Raiders finished in double-figure wins as AJ Paterson and Dan Bent were named to the first team as Paterson was named the Player of the Year and Bent was named the Defensive Player of the Year. Stefan Rokvic, Sam DeRoy and Joel Sundell were selected to the second team as Brayden McNitt and Florian Hoffmann were chosen to the freshman team. Paterson was drafted by the New York City Football Club of the MLS.

With all the success of the program, 2016 showed leaps in improvement, culminating in Wright State's first Horizon League regular-season championship. The Raiders returned to the championship game for the third straight year and fourth time in six seasons.

Other highlights of the magical season included eight Raiders honored by the Horizon League. Peguy Ngatcha received the Player of the Year and the Offensive Player of the Year honors. Ngatcha, Eric Lynch, Jake Stovall and Kaique Fernandes were named to the first team and Jackson Dietrich and AJ Paterson received second-team honors. Austin Kinley was added to the Newcomer Team.

Ngatcha, Lynch and Stovall were named to All-Ohio Teams while those three were joined by Dietrich on the All-Regioan Teams. Later, Stovall and Ngatcha became just the second and third Raiders ever selected in the MLS Draft. Stovall was chosen by the Seattle Sounders, the reigning MLS Cup champions, in the third round while Ngatcha was picked by the Colorado Rapids in the fourth round.

2016 also saw additions to Wright State's overall list of signature wins that include Cincinnati, Fullerton, West Virginia, Portland, Marquette, Kentucky, San Diego State as well as a ties at Ohio State and at #17 Virginia Tech.

2015 saw plenty of jumps in the Raider soccer program, including a national ranking. The Raiders finished with 12 wins overall and advanced to the finals of the Horizon League Tournament. Ngatcha and Lynch received first team HL honors, Sam DeRoy second team and Dietrich and Eric Hutton were named to the Freshman Team. Dietrich was also named the Freshman of the Year.

In 2014, sophomore forward Lynch was selected as the Player of the Year and three other Raiders received All-League honors. He was joined on the First Team by sophomore forward Ngatcha and senior defender Emeka Ononye while defender Austin Polster was selected to the All-Freshman Team. The team also showed results on the field with the most wins at WSU since 2001 and advancing to its second Horizon League finals in four seasons.

Elder and Ononye received second team honors in 2013 as Stovall and Lynch were named to the Freshman Team. Lynch was also named to the final TopDrawerSoccer.com Top 100 Freshman College Players list. As a team, the Raiders advanced to the semifinals of the Horizon League Tournament, losing to eventual champion UIC on their home field.

2012 saw the completion of the Rinzler Student Sports Complex with team rooms, restrooms and concessions. 2012 also saw the emergence of Elder as he was named the Horizon League Newcomer of the Year, First Team All-League and a Freshman All-American while Derek Zuniga was selected as a Second Team All-Horizon League honoree.

Just as improvements were made to Alumni Field, the home of the Raiders, in 2011, the men's soccer program also made a noticeable improvement in wins and Horizon League placement. After being picked to finish last in the league's preseason poll, Davis led his team to an 11-7-2 record overall and a 5-2-1 league mark, good for a second-place tie. WSU then advanced to the championship match of the Horizon League Tournament against Loyola before falling 1-0 in overtime.
The team also garnered five All-Horizon League honors, including two First Teamers in Brian Cothern and Bryce Rockwell-Ashton while Craig Feehan, Justin Laird and Gustav Svensson were selected to the All-Newcomer Team. Feehan was also named the league's Newcomer of the Year.

Slemker joined the Wright State staff in March 2010 after a two-year stint as an assistant coach at Scottsdale (AZ) Community College. While at SCC, that program hit new heights with most wins (12) in school history in 2009 when they defeated defending national champions Yavapai. SCC also made their first Play-Off appearance ever in 2008.

A native of Englewood, Ohio, Slemker played for the Raiders from 2003 to 2006 and was a four-year starter in the backfield. Following his WSU career, Slemker played professionally with the Dayton Dutch Lions, Arizona Sahuraos, Cincinnati Kings Albany Admirals and Cleveland Internationals.
Slemker graduated from Wright State in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and earned a master's degree in applied behavioral science in 2012.


WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

"Wright State has made the an excellent choice! Jake is very deserving of this opportunity. He has served the program well as an assistant over the years and will do a great job as a head coach."--Hylton Dayes, Head Coach at University of Cincinnati and former WSU Head Coach and Wright State All-American

When I heard the news about Coach Davis leaving, I immediately thought Coach Slemker is the best-fit candidate to be taking over this program that he has helped build. During my time at Wright State, he showed that he has the soccer IQ to coach at a high level and gives both tough love and praise when necessary. He pushes players to perform to the best of their abilities if they're willing to put in the work. I remember all the extra hours of work he took out of his days to help myself and other players on the team. I'm so excited and happy for him and cannot wait to see where he takes this great program.--AJ Paterson, Former Raider Great and currently with Bethlehem Steel FC of the USL

"When I got the news that Coach Slemker will become the head coach for the men's soccer team, I wasn't surprised. Jake is not only a great coach but also a student of the game. He's great at detecting talent, tactically sound, and has the best vision of the game. I improved year after year being under coach Slemker microscope. Coach Slemker has a great sense of humor, charismatic, as well as interacting and building strong relationship with his players and everybody around him. It's rare to find coaches that truly care about the players' future to make it at the next level. Coach Davis was a special coach who did a lot for this soccer program. With Coach Slemker taking over, I strongly believe he will keep the legacy going and hopefully win more titles. The future is definitely looking bright for WSU men's soccer program. Best of luck! I am very excited for the future"--Peguy Ngatcha, Former Raider Great and MLS Draft Pick

"Big congratulations to Jake Slemker being named Head Coach. As a former player, it's really exciting to see all his hard work and commitment throughout the years now putting him in this position. I am eager to see the program thrive off of Jake's passion for the game and selflessness for his players. This is much deserved, and I look forward to seeing the program's success in the future."-- Derek Zuniga, Alumni

"From WSU camp, to club soccer and all the way to starting at WSU, I have known this young man a long time. Congratulations to Jake, but more importantly, congratulations to WSU for picking a great up-and-coming coach to lead them into the future. I wish him all the best, and I am very proud of him."--Mike Tracy, Former WSU Head Coach and Player

"Jake wasn't just a soccer coach to me, he was and still is a friend, mentor and role model to me to this day. I'm absolutely thrilled to learn that he has been granted this opportunity that he thoroughly deserves. I'm confident that the program is in great hands and excited watch him take the program to new heights. I wish the best of luck to Jake and our Raider family."--Emy Ononye, Alumni and Former USL Player