WARSAW – Jon Hoover is a coach very in tune with the level of talent and success of the Warsaw girls soccer program.

Hoover will now be the man in charge of that program.

Hoover, who has been an assistant coach with the Grace College women’s soccer program, has been approved as the new WCHS girls soccer coach.

Hoover takes over a program that has flourished under the direction of Peter Lucht. Several former Warsaw standouts have went on to play at Grace, including Meredith Hollar, Abby Schue, Liz Van Wormer and Clair Snodgrass, who all were on the team this past fall.

Hoover was a standout goalie at Grace from 1997-2000, earning all-conference and All-American honors and serving as captain three years for the Lancers. He then coached in the Grace men’s soccer program before serving as the girls soccer coach at Lakeland Christian Academy in 2008.

Hoover, who was also a track and field standout at Grace, has been coaching with the Grace College women’s program since 2008. He has also been a physical eduction and health teacher at Edgewood Middle School since 2008.

The Warsaw ladies team went 16-5 overall and 6-1 in Northern Lakes Conference play last fall. The Tigers lost 7-1 to nationally ranked Penn in a regional semifinal game. Penn went on to win the Class 2-A state championship.

Lucht, who played his senior year at WCHS and played at Grace College, resigned from his coaching position this winter. Lucht guided the Tigers the past four seasons, winning sectional titles in 2013, 2014 and 2016.

Hoover and his wife Emily and son Alex reside in Winona Lake.